Lower Tauern North

Snowdrift accumulations prone to triggering

Snowdrift accumulations prone to triggering

Avalanche danger above 1600m is MODERATE, below that altitude danger is low. Slabs, mostly small-sized, can be triggered even by minimum additiional loading both near to and distant from ridgelines and behind protruberances in the landscape on west to north to east-facing slopes, but caution is also urged near the treeline and in forest clearances. In isolated cases, triggerings can fracture down to more deeply embedded layers in the snowpack the releases can grow to medium size. Isolated naturally triggered glide-snow and loose-snow avalanches are possible at any time of day or night.

Fresh and older snowdrift masses lie atop an expansively metamorphosed, often atop a loosely-packed surface. Near the crusts are weak layers of faceted, expansively metamorphosed crystals, currently prone to triggering in isolated cases. Particularly in wind-protected zones there is snow which is rewarding to skiers, it is faceted, expansively metamorphosed powder which is settling increasingly with rising temperatures.

Nocturnal skies will be clear and mild, sunshine and good visibility as of early morning. The brisk-to-strong S/SE winds will reach windspeeds of 70 km/hr at high altitudes in the Northern Alps, elsewhere only moderate. At 2000m: +3 degrees; at 3000m: -3 degrees.

Snowdrift problem is receding slightly