Lower Tauern South

Trigger-sensitive foehn-induced snowdrifts

Trigger-sensitive foehn-induced snowdrifts

Avalanche danger above 1800 m is MODERATE, below that altitude danger is LOW. Main problem. freshly generated foehn wind-induced snowdrift accumulations, triggerable as a medium-sized slab even by minimum additional loading. Danger zones lie (depending on wind impact) near to and distant from ridgelines, behind abrupt drops in the terrain and in steep gullies. Increasingly on north-facing slopes gullies can also be laterally wind-loaded. Frequency of danger zones increases with ascending altitude. Apart from wind impact, loose fresh snow can also be triggered as a small loose-snow avalanche in extremely steep terrain. Below 2300 m naturally triggered small-to-medium glide-snow avalanches continue to be possible.

Snowfall from last week has settled and consolidated, is superficially encrusted up to 2600 m. Atop of that lies 5-15 cm of fresh snowfall which on the Main Alpine Ridge at high altitudes is being transported by southerly foehn wind or getting wind-compressed. The old snowpack as weak layers at high and high-alpine altitudes, artificial triggerings found triggerings at the borderline to the old snowpack from last week. At intermediate altitudes the old snowpack is thoroughly wet. Below 1400 m there is little snow on the ground.

In early morning and for a few hours there will be light snowfall on the Main Alpine Ridge and vicinity, clouds will remain dense. The snowfall level will ascend from 1000 to nearly 1600 m during the day. At 2000 m: -3 to +1 degree; at 3000 m: -8 to -4 degrees. Southerly foehn wind will be blowing at 40-60 km/h, stronger on the Main Alpine Ridge in the foehn lanes.

On Friday, temperatures will rise further amid southerly foehn winds, the zero-degree level will ascend to 2500 m. Recent fresh snow will moisten, further naturally triggered wet loose-snow avalanches will trigger in the old snow, including slab avalanches up to magnitude 3 at high altitudes.