Weisseck, Muhr Valley

Prone to triggering wind slab snow, persistent weak layer problem in the higher elevations

Prone to triggering wind slab snow, persistent weak layer problem in the higher elevations

The avalanche risk is considerable from the sparse high forest upwards and low below. The wind slab is prone to triggering and can be triggered in many places with little additional load; slab avalanches can reach medium size. All aspects and both adjacent to ridgelines and steep terrain far from ridgelines are affected. Drift snow areas are partly covered with snow and difficult to recognise. Caution is also required on and below cornices.

At high altitudes (especially on western, northern and eastern slopes), avalanches can also break through into the persistent weak layer and occasionally become large if there is a lot of additional load. Be careful at transitions from lots of snow to little snow.

In windless areas, there is 20 to 40 cm of new fallen snow from the last few days, depending on the area, while exposed places are heavily blown and snowdrift accumulations are correspondingly thick. Underneath is settled wind slab snow from the last week. This came to rest on an old snowpack, which is interspersed with faceted crystals and deep rime (also in combination with crusts) both in the transition area and deeper inside. This weakens the structure down to ground level. Although fractures are still possible here, they are most likely to occur within the fresh snow packs.

During the night it will snow in small amounts from dense clouds, especially in the Tauern region. Winds from the north will peak at around 40 km/h at high altitudes during the night. On Thursday, mostly dense clouds will continue to predominate, with isolated periods of unproductive snowfall. A brisk north-westerly wind will blow at high altitudes in the Tauern mountains with gusts of around 40 km/h, otherwise the wind will be moderately strong. At 2000 metres the temperature will be around -6 degrees, at 3000 metres around -10 degrees.

Mixed weather leads to a slow reduction in avalanche danger.