Lower Tauern South

Weak old snow and sliding snow are the main dangers.

Weak old snow and sliding snow are the main dangers.

The avalanche danger is moderate above 2400 metres and low below. Above around 2400 m, slab avalanches can be triggered in places by individual winter sports enthusiasts. The avalanches usually remain small, but can occasionally become medium-sized if they break through into deeper layers. Danger spots for this are located on very steep western, northern and eastern slopes, especially at the transitions from little to much snow. Small, very occasionally also medium-sized, spontaneous sliding snow avalanches are still possible from very steep, not yet discharged grass mat terrain.

The surface is dominated by (broken) harsch, which can become soft during the day purely on the sunny side. Above around 2400 m, bound snow (due to rain or drift snow) lies on a layer of old snow with soft layers of angular crystals, which are prone to disruption. These weak layers are found in particular on western, northern and eastern slopes. Below around 2000 metres, the remaining snow cover is often damp or wet right down to the ground.

Wednesday night will be partly foggy in the valleys, but only slightly cloudy above the fog cover. On the mountains it will be very sunny and mild on Wednesday. The air will be extremely dry and visibility will be good. Temperature at 2000m: 4 to 8 degrees, at 3000m: around +1 degree. High wind: weak to moderate from the south-west.

Weak layers in old snow remain susceptible to disruption.