Lower Tauern South

Snowdrift problem

Snowdrift problem

Snowdrifts at high altitudes. Trigger-sensitivity increases with ascending altitude starting at the timberline. Above above 2300 m even the weight of one single person is sufficient to trigger a release, danger is CONSIDERABLE. Due to windblown terrain and the general roughness of the ground in backcountry touring zones, avalanche prone areas are easy to underestimate. Second danger. On very steep grass-covered slopes: in those zones, small-to-medium sized glide-snow avalanches can release naturally.

Prior to 25 November the ground was bare of snow up to 2000 m on shady slopes, since then snow depths have grown to 40-100 cm at intermediate altitudes, by evening on Thursday an additional 10-20 cm will be added to it. Intense warming on Wednesday led to a significant settling of the snowpack. Weak layers: (1) between the layers of snowdrift from recent snowfall, weak layers are possible. (2) in the Hohe Tauern there is a thin fracturable layer beneath the melt-freeze crust, at least in extended northern aspects up to about 2300 m (old snow problem). Exposed zones are completely windblown, gullies and bowls above the treeline are frequently filled to the brim, high alpine ridges often have mighty cornices. Over warm and smooth ground surfaces, the snowpack is gliding.

On Thursday, visibility will frequently be impaired by clouds and residual fog. Repeated snowfall is possible from the heavy cloud cover, possible 10-20 cm by evening. Sunshine is not in the cards. Winds will be blowing at moderate strength from westerly directions. At 2000 m: from -4 to -9 degrees; at 3000 m: from -11 to -15 degrees. On Friday, cold, often limited visibility to begin with, with a small amount of snowfall. Conditions will improve during the course of the day.

At high altitudes, the snowdrift problem persists, but trigger sensitivity will decrease somewhat. The moderate gliding snow activity will continue.