Wölz Tauern South

Prone to triggering pillows of wind drifted snow lie on weak persistent layers!

Prone to triggering pillows of wind drifted snow lie on weak persistent layers!

The avalanche risk is still rated as moderate above 1,800 metres and low below that. Above the tree line, snowdrift accumulations can be triggered in a few places by individual winter sports enthusiasts. Especially in the northern and eastern sectors, avalanches can reach medium size when breaking through the weak old snowpack. The danger areas are mainly located in the transition from little to much snow as well as behind terrain edges and in the entrance area of gullies and bowls. Some of the danger spots are covered in snow and difficult to recognise.

On a very varied old snow surface, there are local piles of fresh pillows of wind drifted snow, some of which are prone to triggering. These are partly covered by soft new fallen snow. In the northern and eastern exposures, the snowpack is still weakened with faceted crystals and floating snow (persistent weak layer problem!). The overall snow depth is well below average.

Widespread clouds and high fog will persist during the night. In the west, the clouds will soften towards the morning. Friday will be cloudy in the peripheral mountains with an upper limit of high fog at 1500 metres. In the eastern parts of the country, medium-high clouds may remain quite persistent, but the summits will be mostly clear. In western Upper Styria, however, sunshine will predominate from early in the morning. The temperature at an altitude of 2000 metres is between -6 and -2 degrees. The temperature at an altitude of 1500 metres is between -4 and -0 degrees. Winds will be weak to moderate with gusts of around 30 km/h from west to north-west.

No change in the avalanche danger is expected. There will be little change in the weather on Saturday. It will be mostly sunny from the morning with only weak to moderate winds. In the peripheral mountains it will remain foggy and cloudy in the afternoon.