Wölz Tauern South

Very isolated not yet settled snowdrifts at high altitudes, glide-snow avalanches in steep terrain

Very isolated not yet settled snowdrifts at high altitudes, glide-snow avalanches in steep terrain

Isolated danger zones for trigger-prone snowdrift accumulations occur in shady terrain above 2200 m, esp. on east-facing steep slopes caution is urged, large additional loading can trigger small-to-medium slab avalanches. In addition, on steep slopes in all aspects naturally triggered glide-snow and wet-snow avalanches can be expected. Open glide cracks are indicators of imminent danger.

Due to starkly rising temperatures and solar radiation from Friday, the fresh snow that fell at the beginning of the week has settled by and large. The evident weak layers have dissolved except on high-altitude shady slopes. After a night of mostly clear skies on Friday, a superficial melt-freeze crust will form, then on Saturday swiftly soften. The snowpack is moist-to-wet. In steep terrain on smooth ground the snowpack glides away up to high altitudes. An area-wide snowpack exists only above the treeline.

A cold front from the northwest will traverse the Eastern Alps on Saturday, bringing variable conditions to Styria. Clouds will veil the peaks in fog, some precipitation is expected, snowfall level in the Northern Alps at 2000 m, on the southern flank of the Alps at 2200 m. Weather will improve in the afternoon. The NW winds along the Niedere Tauern to the eastern Northern Alps will be moderate. At 2000 m: +1 degree; at 1500 m: +4 degrees (in the south +3 and +7 degrees). On Sunday in the wake of the withdrawing cold front, dry air masses will move in. From the west, clouds will disperse, final showers are possible in NE Upper Styria. Winds will weaken. Temperatures will drop slightly.

Snowdrift problem receding. Gliding snow problem persists.