Villach Alps

Isolated danger zones. Wet loose-snow avalanches possible on very steep sunny slopes.

Isolated danger zones. Wet loose-snow avalanches possible on very steep sunny slopes.

Avalanches can be triggered in the old snow even by one sole skier on shady slopes above 2000m, mostly medium-sized releases. Freshly generated snowdrift accumulations can be triggered by one sole skier, esp. on shady slopes. Caution urged at the foot of rock walls and behind protruberances in the terrain, and in gullies and bowls. Due to daytime warming and solar radiaation, moist loose-snow avalanches are possible, mostly small releases on very steep sunny slopes.

Clear skies widespread. Due to low temperatures and low air moisture, near-surface crusts form above 2400m. In the lowermost part of the snowpack there are faceted, expansively metamorphosed weak layers evident, esp. above 2200m. Fresh snowdrift accumulations are being deposited atop soft layers . On sunny slopes, the snowpack softens during the day on extremely steep slopes.

On Thursday, outstanding mountain weather, sunshine from early until late, cloudless skies but for a few thin clouds above summit level in the western massifs. Light (moderate in exposed terrain) SW winds, 30 km/hr. At 1000m: +12 degrees; at 2000m: 3 degrees; at 3000m: -3 degrees. Source: GeoSphere