Lower Tauern South

Fresh and older snowdrift accumulations are prone to disruption

Fresh and older snowdrift accumulations are prone to disruption

The avalanche risk is moderate above the tree line and low below. Slab avalanches can be triggered in some places by even a small additional load. Avalanches can reach medium size, the fresh snowdrift accumulations grow during the daytime changes. Avalanche prone locations can be found in all areas adjacent to the ridgeline and area distant from ridgelines, behind terrain edges, in gullies and bowls and also in the forest boundary area. They increase in size and frequency with altitude. Cracks when walking on the snow cover, snowpack indicate danger. Spontaneous, mostly small loose snow avalanches can also occur on extremely steep terrain when exposed to sunlight. In addition to the risk of burial, the danger of being swept away and falling must be taken into account. There are also many rocks lurking around.

A total of 20 to 30 cm of new fallen snow has fallen in the last few days, with another 10 to 20 cm coming overnight. Wind and snowfall are constantly forming fresh wind slabs at altitude. Both the recently fallen soft snow, surface hoar and faceted crystals above/below the uppermost crust can serve as a weak layer. The rest of the old snowpack consists of layers of faceted crystals, deep rime and melt-freeze crusts, where it has little tendency to break up. The total snow depth is still well below average.

It will snow heavily during the night to Sunday, especially in the northern stagnant areas (northern Alps and Hohe Tauern). Widespread 10 cm of new fallen snow, 20 cm in the northern stau. Visibility will improve during the daytime changes on Sunday. In the morning, the mountains will be covered in clouds and it may still snow a little. From midday, the clouds will start to soften and the sun will shine in the afternoon. A brisk, even stormy north-westerly wind will blow in the Tauern mountains, reaching speeds of around 80 km/h. It will be much colder again. At 2000 metres around -16 degrees, at 3000 metres around -21 degrees Celsius.

The wind slab remains prone to triggering.