Lower Tauern South

Tricky - avoid fresh wind slab at all costs

Tricky - avoid fresh wind slab at all costs

The avalanche risk is considerable above the tree line. New fallen snow and extensive snowdrift accumulations are very prone to triggering in some places above the tree line in all aspects. Snow slabs can be triggered in layers close to the surface and reach medium size. Avalanches can also break through into layers of the snowpack close to the ground and become large on west, north and east-facing slopes. In some cases, the wind slab is also covered by snow again and avalanche prone locations are sometimes difficult to recognise. Naturally triggered avalanches (both slabby and soft) are also to be expected in very steep, extreme terrain.

Wind slabs (sometimes over 1 metre) and new fallen snow (40 cm to 60 cm) lie on a weak old snowpack. There are weak layers in the upper part of the old snowpack as well as deeper down (faceted crystals on crusts). Close to the ground, the snowpack consists of angular, cup-shaped crystals. Snow slabs break mainly within the fresh wind slab and new snow layers, but sometimes also on one of the uppermost weak layers in the persistent weak layer. Under unfavourable circumstances, however, a weak layer close to the ground can be addressed.

During the night, it snows 5 cm to 15 cm with strong winds from the northwest to north. On Friday, the snowfall (about 5 cm) will decrease during the day and take breaks. It will clear up in the afternoon. It will remain very windy and cold, in open high areas of the Tauern the north wind will be gale-force at times. At 2000 metres around -11 degrees, at 3000 metres around -16 degrees.

The avalanche danger remains for the time being.