Lower Tauern South

Snowdrift accumulations prone to triggering

Snowdrift accumulations prone to triggering

Avalanche danger above the timberline is MODERATE, below that altitude danger is LOW. Avalanche prone locations are found in steep wind-loaded zones (gullies, steep bowls, forest clearances, etc.) and generally in ridgeline terrain in N/E/S aspects. The freshly generated snowdrift accumulations often lie next to windblown, hardened knolls. Fresh drifts are prone to triggering. In some places, even minimum additional loading is sufficient to trigger a small-to-medium slab avalanche. Above the treeline, the frequency of possible trigger points increases swiftly with ascending altitude.

About 5-10 cm of fresh snow is anticipated, accompanied by storm-strength W/NW winds which will transport the new fallen snow over wide-ranging areas. On shady slopes the base consists of expansively metamorphosed (faceted) snow and surface hoar in shady, wind-protected gullies, bowls and forest clearances, i.e. potential fracture points; elsewhere mostly breakable wind crusts, and on sunny slopes melt-freeze crusts or moist old snow. The old snowpack is generally stable, tends towards fracture propagation only in isolated cases with large additional loading (in a faceted layer beneath the melt-freeze / rain crust which formed at the New Year.

On Tuesday, starkly reduced visibility due to clouds and fog especially in Northern Alps. A bit of snowfall is possible. Winds generally slackening off, still strong in the Tauern (gusts at 40-60 km/hr). At 1500 m: -6 degrees; at 3000 m: -8 degrees On Wednesday, much sunshine, good visibility from the start. Winds light, no disturbance. At 2000 m: 0 degrees; at 3000 m: -4 degrees.

Temperatures rising only gradually, the snowdrift problem not measurably improving, wind-loaded zones should be avoided on Wednesday.