Lower Tauern South

Snowdrifts highly prone to triggering

Snowdrifts highly prone to triggering

The danger of avalanches above the treeline is HIGH (4), below that altitude danger is CONSIDERABLE (3). Avalanches can be triggered at all altitudes by winter sports enthusiasts, even by minimum additional loading. On many steep slopes at high altitudes the triggering of a medium-to-large slab avalanche is downright probable! This applies to gullies in all aspects and steep wind-loaded slopes particularly in N/E/SW aspects and there, particularly near forest rims. In extremely steep terrain, isolated avalanches can trigger naturally. In high alpine starting zones, the releases can develop snow clouds and grow to large size. At low altitudes the risk of glide-snow avalanches over hillsides is increasing.

Since Monday there has been 60-90 cm of fresh snow registered widespread, in the northern barrier cloud regions (Loferer Steinberge, Steinernes Meer, Hochkönig, Tennengebirge, Hohe Tauern) as much as 120 cm. The NW storm winds are transporting huge masses of snow, deposited new drifts in gullies and bowls, and particularly at forest rims and in forest clearances. The drifts are extremely prone to triggering atop the cold snowbase, as numerous attempted triggerings and some very large naturally triggered avalanches have amply demonstrated. Fracture-points occur most of all inside the new snow and new drifts themselves, in isolated cases also in more deeply embedded weak layers in the upper part of the snowpack. At low altitudes, higher temperatures and below 1200 m also the rainfall have moistened the snowpack, in some places it glides over steep grass-covered slopes all by itself.

On Thursday, a bit of light snowfall is possible in the morning but dry weather conditions will quickly become dry, visibility will initially be reduced but rapidly improve. Sun windows are possible in the Tauern region. The strong NW winds will slacken off significantly during the daytime. It will become milder. At 2000 m: -3 to 0 degrees, at 3000 m: -9 to -5 degrees. On Friday, sunny, with very good visibility. Winds will be light to moderate. At 2000 m: -1 degree, at 3000 m: -7 degrees.

For winter sports enthusiasts, CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger will prevail on Friday due to the snowdrifts. At low and intermediate altitudes, increasingly frequent glide-snow avalanches. And on sunny slopes, the snowpack will become moist. Caution!