Lower Tauern South

Avoid wind-loaded terrain

Avoid wind-loaded terrain

Avalanche danger above the treeline is moderate. The main problem is freshly generated snowdrift accumulations which can trigger a small, and in isolated cases also a medium-sized slab avalanche even by minimum addiitional loading. Danger zones for slab avalanches occur near to and distant from ridgelines, particularly in NW/N/SE facing slopes and in steep ridgeline terrain. Above 2400m an avalanche which is unleashed on the surface can fracture down to deeper layers inside the old snowpack In very steep, unstructured terrain below 2200m, isolated naturally triggered glide-snow avalanches can unleash, also small loose-snow avalanches.

Since the weekend there has been 10-15 cm of fresh snow registered widespread, up to 30 cm over small areas on the Main Tauern Ridge and in the Leogang Steinberge and on Hochkönig (with graupel). Stromy W/NW winds have transported the snow far-reachingly. Fresh snow and drifts cover surface hoar in shady, wind-protected zones, also older drifts (generated by southerly foehn winds from last week) at high altitudes. The snowpack base above 2400m is often weakened by layers of faceted crystals. On very steep grassy slopes the snowpack can often glide over smooth ground. Their proneness to triggering has diminished somewhat at high altitudes due to higher temperatures (there was brief rainfall up to 2200m). At low and intermediate altitudes the snowpack is intensely moistened due to solar radiation and higher temperatures, and is thus losing its firmness.

During the night, skies will be intermittently clear, no precipitation is expected. On Tuesday, sunshine will dominate. Winds in exposed terrain will reach peaks of 60 km/hr during the morning hours, otherwise winds will be moderate. Extremely mild. At 2000m: +2 degrees; at 3000m: -4 degrees.

Little change expected on Wednesday.