Schladming Tauern South

Unfavourable snow layering in the northern sector!

Unfavourable snow layering in the northern sector!

The avalanche danger is assessed as low. There are few avalanche prone locations in the east and north sectors, especially behind ridgelines, terrain edges and in extremely steep gullies and bowls (persistent weak layer problem!). Occasional slabs can be triggered as small to medium slab avalanches due to large additional loads.

The snow cover, snowpack has largely settled due to the continued warmth. In the high altitudes, older wind slab lies on angular forms in the northern and eastern exposures. Weak layers are mainly found in the old snowpack (unstable layer of faceted crystals). In the foundation of the snow cover, kinetic metamorphism (floating snow) weakens the stability. On the sunny slopes, the snowpack is again becoming more stable. A non-load-bearing crust has formed in the sunny slopes. Due to the wind from the south, fresh snowdrift accumulations are forming occasionally in the high alpine regions (Schladminger Tauern - Dachstein). The snow depths are still below average.

During the course of the night, the entire southern side of the Alps is covered in fog and clouds. Only the highest peaks of the Niedere Tauern and the northern Alps remain clear. On Saturday, these areas will be covered in a layer of cloud and fog up to altitudes of 2000 to 2200 metres. With very poor visibility, there will be occasional and localised light drizzle or snow drizzle. In the northern Alps, sunshine will generally predominate with a southerly foehn wind, and any fog patches in the valleys will also clear quickly. From the Tauern to the Hochschwab, a strong, exposed, stormy southerly wind will blow. Otherwise the wind will be weak to moderate. The temperature at an altitude of 2000 metres is between -0 and 3 degrees. The temperature at an altitude of 1500 metres is around 4 degrees.

Colder on Sunday, still foehn in the northern Alps. Clouds and fog on the southern side of the Alps will soften during the day. On the north side, the risk of slush will remain at high altitudes.