Lower Tauern South

Near-surface moist loose-snow avalanches in extremely steep terrain

Near-surface moist loose-snow avalanches in extremely steep terrain

Avalanche danger is LOW. 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.

In high-altitude wind-exposed zones the snowpack is often hard-compacted oder windblown, fresh snowdrifts are small-spread in high alpine regions on north-facing slopes. Showers during the course of the day burden 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 Monday, following a night of overcast skies, mostly heavy cloud cover and a bit of rainfall (snowfall above 1500-1900m). At 2000 m: -2 to +2 degrees. Moderate NW winds. On Tuesday, heavy cloud cover, widespread rainfall or snowfall as of midday, snowfall level at 1500-2000m. Towards evening the precipitation can become heavy. At 2000 m: 0 degrees. Moderate S/W winds.

On Tuesday, little change initially. As precipitation becomes heavier, frequency of danger zones for avalanches will increase in high and high altitude places.