Wölz Tauern South

Persistent weak layer problem! Be especially careful in gullies and bowls in the northern and eastern sectors!

Persistent weak layer problem! Be especially careful in gullies and bowls in the northern and eastern sectors!

The avalanche risk is assessed as moderate above 1800 metres and low below that. The snow layering is still very weak, especially in the northern and eastern sectors. Here, avalanches can be triggered by even small additional loads and can reach medium size when breaking through the weak old snowpack. In some cases, there is a thin, bound layer from the last snowfall. The danger areas are mainly located in the transition from little to more snow as well as behind terrain edges and in the entrance area of gullies and bowls. Some of the danger spots are difficult to recognise.

The total snow depth is well below average. A thin layer of bound new fallen snow overlays a very variable old snowpack. There is significantly more snow in shady gullies and bowls than on sunny slopes, some of which are partly bare up to 2000 metres. In the northern and eastern exposures, the snowpack is still weakened by layers with faceted crystals and floating snow (persistent weak layer problem!).

During the night to Sunday, medium-high clouds spread across the whole of Styria, but the peaks remained unaffected by them. In contrast, the clouds in the south-east shroud many peaks of the Randgebirge in fog. On Sunday, a low pressure system over Hungary sends dense clouds over the Styrian mountains. While the peaks in western Upper Styria will remain largely clear, Hochschwab, Wechsel and the peaks of the entire Randgebirge are likely to be repeatedly shrouded in fog. Visibility will be correspondingly limited here. Occasionally, a few snowflakes will also fall. The temperature at an altitude of 2000 metres will be around -5 degrees. The temperature at an altitude of 1500 metres will be around -4 degrees. The wind will be light to moderate with gusts of around 20 km/h.

No change in the avalanche danger is expected. The weather will temporarily improve on Monday, with bright and sunny leisure weather returning to the mountains. Tuesday will also bring intermittent sunshine, but the wind will pick up considerably. From today's perspective, Wednesday will be unsettled, with new fallen snow also possible.