Lower Tauern South

Fresh snowfall amid wind impact

Fresh snowfall amid wind impact

Avalanche danger above 1800m is CONSIDERABLE, below that altitude danger is MODERATE. A slab of medium size can be easily triggered. Danger zones are generally on W/SE facing slopes, both near ridgelines and distant from them. In high alpine terrain, superficial avalanches can fracture down to more deeply embedded layers in the snowpack and attain larger size. Due to solar radiation, the most recent bout of fresh snow can trigger a loose-snow avalanche naturally in extremely steep rocky terrain.

Monday brought 15-30 cm of fresh snow from the south amid rising temperatures. Above 2500 m, strong-to-stormy NE/SE winds transported the snow. The base for fresh snow and drifts is the cold, somewhat settled snowfall from last week. Older drifts from Saturday still exist on south-facing slopes and in gullies. Fracture points for slabs: the borderline between fresh snow and snowdrifts to the cold and often loose base beneath them. Apart from that, inside the old snowpack are weak layers bordering on melt-freeze crusts and depth hoar in the fundament.

On Tuesday adequate visibility, some sunshine. Temperatures will rise somewhat. At 2000 m. -3 degrees; at 3000 m: -9 degrees. Winds will remain mostly light.

On Wednesday, sunny, light wind, mild temperatures. But the beautiful weather should not deceive: avalanche danger is still CONSIDERABLE.