Lower Tauern South

Avoid wind-loaded terrain

Avoid wind-loaded terrain

Avalanche danger above the treeline is moderate. The main problem is freshly generated snowdrift accumulations which can trigger a small, and in isolated cases also a medium-sized slab avalanche even by minimum addiitional loading. Danger zones for slab avalanches occur particularly in NW/N/SE facing slopes and in steep ridgeline terrain. Above 2400m an avalanche which is unleashed on the surface can fracture down to deeper layers inside the old snowpack In very steep, unstructured terrain below 2200m, isolated naturally triggered glide-snow avalanches can unleash. Avoid all terrain below glide cracks.

Fresh snow and snowdrifts blanket an unfavourable snowbase of surface hoar and faceted layers particularly on shady, wind-protected slopes. At high and high-alpine altitudes there are also snowdrifts which were generated recently by southerly foehn winds as well as by W/NW winds which are prone to triggering. The old snowpack fundament on shady, high altitude slopes is weakened by layers of faceted crystals. The snow is distributed highly irregularly, ridges are often windblown, and the fresh snow does not cover the ground sufficiently. On very steep grassy slopes the snowpack can glide over the smooth ground.

In the latter part of Sunday night, strong NW winds will bring slightly higher temperatures and snow showers (10-15 cm). On Monday, more showers will follow, and the snowfall level ascend to 1500m. Visibility will be poor due to strong W/NW winds. At 2000m at midday: +2 degrees; at 3000m: -2 degrees.

On Monday, the proneness to triggering of snowdrift accumulations will gradually decrease.