Lower Tauern South

Down below: wet snow. Up above: snowdrift accumulations.

Down below: wet snow. Up above: snowdrift accumulations.

Avalanche danger above 1800m is MODERATE. At low and intermediate altitudes the danger stems mostly from small (isolated medium-sized) wet loose-snow avalanches which trigger naturally or in very steep terrain, by winter sports enthusiasts. Danger from snowdrifts increases with ascending altitude in gullies and behind steep protruberances in NE/E/S aspects. The fresh drifts are prone to triggering. Poor visibility makes evaluation more difficult on-site.

The old snowpack is nearly 0-degree isotherm (except on shady high alpine slopes) and compact, the reserves of cold are few. Precipitation at high altitudes (15-25 cm) can lead to a loss of firmness in the early morning hours. At high altitudes there are older drifts, fresh drifts are being generated in E/S aspects. Bonding to the snowbase deteriorates with ascending altitude.

On Saturday, starkly reduced visibility due to clouds, fog, rain and snow. In early morning a cold front will pass through from the northwest, bringing stormy winds (gusts up to 80 km/hr) and plummeting temperatures of 10 degrees in a short span of time. At 2000 m: from 0 to -7 degrees; at 3000 m: from -6 to -15 degrees. Snowfall level will rapidly descend down to low lying areas. On Sunday, low lying cloud cover will reduce visibility, light snowfall in Northern Alps and Tauern. Winds at high altitudes will be 50-70 cm from W/NW. At 2000 m: -8 degrees, at 3000 m: -15 degrees.

Wet loose-snow avalanches will recede. At high altitudes, MODERATE danger of slab avalanches will persist.