Lower Tauern South

Superficial moist loose-snow avalanches in extremely steep terrain

Superficial moist loose-snow avalanches in extremely steep terrain

Avalanche danger is LOW, but will increase within that level during the course of the day. Superficial moist loose-snow avalanches (mostly small, seldom medium-sized) in extremely steep terrain are the main danger, though the risks of being swept along and falling outweigh those of being buried in snow. At high and high alpine altitudes, particularly on N/E facing slopes near ridges and in gullies thin snowdrift accumulations cause danger zones. In isolated cases, naturally triggered glide-snow avalanches (small-to-medium) are possible.

Only on north-facing slopes and in high alpine regions is there still loosely packed snow, elsewhere the snowpack is encrusted in early morning, softening during the daytime. Showers during the day can burden the stability of the snowpack. The old snowpack is largely compact, in places a weak layer has formed around the Sahara-dust encrusted layer, but is hardly triggered, except by large additional loading (e.g. an avalanche).

On Friday night, skies will be heavily overcast. On Saturday in the Lungau, cloudy skies from the start. Further north, visibility is better, southerly foehn wind will create sunny phases before cloud cover moves in again. In the Tauern region, foehn will intensify (40-60-km/hr in afternoon), elsewhere it will not disturb. In the Northern Alps, isolated showers in the afternoon, even thunderstorms are possible. At 2000m: 1-5 degrees. On Saturday night in the Tauern and Northern Alps, strong-to-stormy southerly foehn winds accompanied by heavy cloud cover. Further north, particularly brighter skies. During the day on Sunday, sunshine and clouds. Foehn will slacken off gradually. In the Northern Alps, isolated showers and thunderstorms are possible during the afternoon. At 2000 m: 0-3 degrees.

On Sunday, the wet-snow problem will dominate in the daytime danger cycle, reinforced if there are showers. At high/high alpine altitudes the fresh snowdrifts on north-facing slopes and in gullies can generate small danger zones for slab avalanches.