Lower Tauern South

Wet-snow and glide-snow avalanches

Wet-snow and glide-snow avalanches

Avalanche danger is MODERATE. On Friday night, lower temperatures will make small glide-snow avalanches possible on steep grass-covered slopes. Also small-to-medium wet-snow avalanches can be expected. Steep starting zones with lots of snow are unfavorable, the entire thoroughly wet snowpack can be swept away and avalanches grow to dangerously large size. Catuion in zones with such risks. Zones below glide cracks should be circumvented.

The snowpack on E/S/W facing slopes is thoroughly wet and, depending on aspect, even wet down to the ground and zero-degree isotherm. Also on shady slopes the snowpack was moistened up to high altitudes on Monday due to warmth and diffuse radiation. In the mostly cloudy nigt the snowpack cannot radiate its warmth outwards. During the dayime it softens further and forfeits its firmness. Free water on grassy slope ground enhances the gliding of the snowpack. On shady slopes at high altitudes the upper part has isolated weak and trigger-sensitive layers; layers more deeply embedded inside the snowpack are currently unlikely to trigger. Below the treeline there is little snow on the ground, above the treeline the snow depths are below average.

On Saturday there will be April weather at the end of March: variable, some sunshine, convective clouds, a few raindrops and snow showers, good visibility at times. At 2000 m: -1 degree at midday; at 3000: -9 degrees. Strong W/NW winds, reaching 70 km/hr in the afternoon at high altitudes.

On the weekend: wet-snow problem. Starting on Monday: wintery conditions for a brief spell.