Lower Tauern South

Persistent weak layers are main danger

Persistent weak layers are main danger

Avalanche danger above 2200m is low, below that altitude danger is low in the morning and rises to moderate during the course of the day. Slab avalanches can be triggered by large additional loading in some places. Esp. on W/N/E-facing slopes above 2200m, avalanches can fracture down to more deeply embedded layers of the snowpack and grow to large size. On extremely steep sunny slopes below 2600m, wet loose-snow and slab avalanches of medium size are possible, naturally triggered or person-triggered. On steep grass-covered slopes below 2400m, medium-sized glide-snow avalanches are possible.

The snowpack has settled, the surface is often encrusted in early morning. Weak layers inside the fresh fallen snow have consolidated well. In transitions to the old snowpack above 2000m, faceted crystals often form a weak layer. In the lower and middle parts of the snowpack above 2200m there are weak layers of faceted crystals which are embedded between crusts. Below 2000m the entire snowpack is moist. Melt-freeze crusts and snowpack itself soften up during the day, the snowpack can forfeit its bonding thereby. Where the ground was bare of snow before the recent precipitation, the entire snowpack can slide away as a glide-snow avalanche.

Star-studded nocturnal skies. On Friday, cloudless skies and unhampered sunshine. In the afternoon a few convective clouds will form but will not hinder visibility. Winds will be light to moderate from the east. At 2000m: +1 to +4 degrees; at 3000m. -5 to -2 degrees.

Little change expected