Lower Tauern Central

Avalanche prone locations mostly on wind-protected shady slopes

Avalanche prone locations mostly on wind-protected shady slopes

Weak layers in the old snow are the main danger. Danger zones are located on steep (>30°) relatively wind-protected shady slopes above approximately 2000 m and in all aspects at high altitudes. Ridgeline zones, gullies and basins at the foot of cliffs are particularly unfavourable. Avalanche prone locations are unrecognizable, even for the experienced! Avalanches can be triggered by one single winter sports enthusiast, and in some cases reach medium size, particularly in the areas where recent snowfall has been heaviest. Alarm signals such as whumpf noises and glide-cracks can indicate imminent danger. In addition, freshly generated snowdrift accumulations in ridgeline terrain on NE-E-S facing slopes are prone to triggeirng. They are generally easy to recognize.

Snow depths amount to 40-90 cm, mostly 15-20 cm, up to 35 from place to place. Locally, cold and loose snow added to it. Particularly on shady slopes the snowpack layering is unfavourable. The snow cover is expansively metamorphosed (faceted) nearly down to the ground, including embedded melt-freeze crusts. Near forested zones and in wind-protected areas the surface hoar has been blanketed by fresh snowfall. Fresh snow and drifts are being deposited atop this weak old snowpack surface, it is prone to triggering. Near ridgelines the small freshly-generated snowdrift accumulations on the old snowpack surface are prone to triggering. In some places there is surface hoar.

Monday: mostly sunshine in Tauern and Nockberge. Icy cold NW wind at high altitudes (up to 40 km/hr). At 2000 m: -13 degrees; at 3000 m: -20 degrees. Tuesday: mostly sunshine, high-altitude clouds will move in during the daytime, possibly hampering the sun. At high altitudes of the Tauern, southerly winds will reach speeds of 40 km/hr. At 2000 m: -9 degrees; at 3000 m: rising from -18 to -11 degrees.

Only gradual decrease of avalanche danger