Lower Tauern South

Trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations due to NW winds

Trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations due to NW winds

Avalanche danger is rising swiftly in relation to wind impact: as of 1800 m danger is CONSIDERABLE, below that altitude danger is MODERATE and directly dependent on the most recent wind impact. The fresh snowdrifts can trigger as a slab avalanche of small-to-medium size. Releases can fracture down to more deeply embedded layers inside the snowpack. Due to unfavourable snowpack layering, superficial avalanche releases can fracture down to more deeply embedded layers and grow to dangerously large size, particularly in high alpine regions.

Atop a snowpack surface showing marked effects of wind (gullies and bowls are filled to the brim, ridges are utterly windblown) cold snow or fresh snowdrifts lie deposited. Bonding is poor. Also the old snowpack is unfavourably layered (ground-level layers metamorphosed, atop of which are melt-freeze crusts/icy sheets and just beneath the surface hoar is embedded) lies a layer of powder which has not been wind-impacted.

On Sunday, adequate visibility, sunshine only in the background. Some higher summits could be wreathed in fog. Snowfall - hardly any. Winds will be light, moderate at high altitudes, from the northwest. At 1500 m: -9 degrees; at 2000 m: -13 degrees; at 3000 m: -17 degrees.

Poor visibility and snowfall on Monday, amid cold northerly wind. Heed snowdrifts!