Totes Gebirge South

Beware trigger-prone snowdrift accumulations

Beware trigger-prone snowdrift accumulations

Avalanche danger is considerable above 1800 m, below that altitude danger is low. Fresh trigger-prone snowdrifts are the main danger. Danger zones occur on N/E/SW facing slopes at entries to steep gullies and bowls and in general behind discontinuities in the terrain where fresh snowdrifts can trigger a medium slab avalanche by 1 person down to the treeline, releases up to medium size. Frequency and size of danger zones increase with ascending altitude. Sometimes during descents, small loose-snow avalanches can be triggered in the fresh fallen snow or trigger naturally in extremely steep terrain during the course of the day.

The fresh snow (40-60 cm) of the last few days lies deposited atop a compact snowpack base. The old snow is thoroughly moist, but was able to consolidate due to the lower temperatures in recent days. The fresh snow is well bonded with the old snowpack. Further snowfall plus brisk W/NW winds will generate fresh small snowdrift accumulations, bonding to the loose fresh fallen snow will be poor, bringing a weak layer for slab avalanches.

A cold front will strike the Eastern Alps during the night. Heavily overcast skies from Dachstein to Hochschwab all day on Saturday, poor visibility, in places persistent snowfall, snowfall level at 800 m in Totes Gebirge and 1200 m near the Koralpe. Particularly at high altitudes of the barrier cloud regions, 30 cm of fresh snow is possible, elsewhere in the Northern Alps 10-20 cm. On the southern flank of the Alps, intermittent sunshine, most of the peaks will be in the clear. In afternoon, snow showers are possible along Niedere Tauern as far as Hochschwab (up to 70 km/hr), brisk winds also elsewhere. At 2000 m: -6 degrees.

Weather will remain changeable and cool, along the northern flank of the Alps repeated bouts of snowfall. Avalanche danger levels will slowly recede.