Lower Tauern Central

Circumvent fresh snowdrifts prone to triggering at high altitudes due to southerly foehn wind

Circumvent fresh snowdrifts prone to triggering at high altitudes due to southerly foehn wind

Avalanche danger levels above 2000m are moderate. Snowdrifts can be triggered as a small-to-medium sized slab avalanche in some places by minumum additional loading. Danger zones also occur distant from ridgelines, especially in gullies and bowls and behind protruberances in the landscape. Surface-near avalanches above 2200m can fracture down to more deeply embedded layers of the snowpack. Danger zones occur particularly on north and east-facing slopes, above 2400m also on south and west-facing slopes. Caution urged in transitions from shallow to deep snow. Naturally triggered small-to-medium sized glide-snow avalanches are possible. Circumvent zones below glide cracks.

Fresh and older snowdrift accumulations are being deposited atop a weak melt-freeze crust up to 2500m, abover that altitude atop loosely-packed, expansively metamorphosed snow. Above about 2200m there are weak layers with faceted crystals evident inside the old snowpack, often prone to triggering. The entire snowpack can glide away over steep rocky places and grass-covered slopes.

Nighttime skies will be variably cloudy and dry, with extended clear phases. Particularly on the Main Alpine Ridge, southerly foehn will arise, in the early morning hours at high altitudes reaching windspeeds of 80-100 km/hr. On Monday, mild foehn-induced weather will prevail, the southerly winds will be strong, reaching windspeeds of 100 km/hr. In the Hohe Tauern strong to stormy at 100 km/hr, less at valley levels. At 2000m: 0 degrees; at 3000m: -2 degrees. In the afternoon, temperatures will drop somewhat.

Avalanche danger levels to increase on Tuesday due to fresh snowfall