Mur Mountains, Gurktal Alps

15 to 30 cm of new fallen snow with wind on a weak old snowpack! Tricky situation for winter sports in open terrain!

15 to 30 cm of new fallen snow with wind on a weak old snowpack! Tricky situation for winter sports in open terrain!

The avalanche risk is still considerable above around 1800 metres. Medium-sized slab avalanches can be triggered by individuals in some places, especially from west to north to east. Fractures can tear through the poorly built-up persistent weak layer. The avalanche prone locations are barely recognisable and should be assessed defensively. Occasionally remote triggering is still possible. Take particular care in the transition from a little to a lot of snow and in the snow-covered entrance areas of gullies and bowls.

A bound snow layer (board) lies on a poorly built-up old snowpack. Fractures can occur within the old snowpack, which often consists of a sequence of melt-freeze crusts and angular forms or deep rime. In addition, existing weak layers (covered surface hoar) can be disturbed at the transition from the overlay to the old snowpack.

South of the main Alpine ridge, many lowlands are still covered in thick patches of high fog, some of which reach up to 1700 metres. It may snow lightly from time to time, but nothing more than a wafer-thin layer of fresh snow is possible. Tuesday morning will also be cloudy on the southern side of the Alps, with high fog reaching up to 1500 to 1800 metres and many peaks covered in fog. As the day progresses, the upper limit of the fog will fall and some peaks will get a few hours of sunshine in the afternoon. Temperatures will be around -4 degrees at 2000 metres and between -3 and 0 degrees at 1500 metres. Moderately strong winds from the southwest.

Towards the middle of the week, clouds from a warm front will replace the sunshine and bring local rain or snow showers with a snowfall level of around 1500 metres. The avalanche situation is only slowly improving.