Schladming Tauern South

Extremely unfavorable backcountry touring conditions: fresh snow, storm winds, drifts in all aspects

Extremely unfavorable backcountry touring conditions: fresh snow, storm winds, drifts in all aspects

The spread of the avalanche prone locations quickly increases with ascending altitude, trigger-sensitive snowdrifts can be found in all aspects, particularly in terrain distant from ridgelines down to below the treeline. Special caution urged towards wind-loaded forest lanes. In addition, poor visibility make assessing the dangers on-site and general orientation in the landscape more difficult.

The old snowpack fundament is melt-freeze encrusted and covered with surface hoar both in leeward terrain and in low-lying shady slopes. Atop these surfaces the forecast fresh snow will be deposited, then be permanently transported by winds to form brittle snowdrift accumulations. Atop summits, crests and plateaus the old snow will be windblown, the fresh drifts can extend down to below the treeline.

This evening a cold front will reach Styria. In Northern Alps from Dachstein to Hochschwab, snowfall amid low lying clouds overnight and on Friday all day long, tapering off in the afternoon. Up to 40 cm of fresh snow can be expected in the mountains. Somewhat less in secondary northern barrier cloud zones of Niedere Tauern and further snow (only short snow showers), since the northerly foehn wind will disperse the clouds somewhat. Winds from northwest will reach gale strength in high alpine regions. Temperatures will drop measurably. At midday at 2000 m: -10 degrees; at 1500 m: -6 degrees.

Also on Saturday on the northern flank of the Alps, cloud and stormy winds. A warm front will bring minor precipitation, the snowfall level will ascend to above 1000 m. The south will have better conditions, being on the lee side of the weather front. The avalanche situation is not expected to change significantly.