Lower Tauern South

Considerable new-snow / snowdrift problem

Considerable new-snow / snowdrift problem

Lots of fresh snow will accumulate during the day, it is instable in outlying terrain, very treacherous. Avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE (3) and the upper limits of this level will be reached in the afternoon. Skiers/boarders can easily trigger a slab above the treeline in steep terrain, particularly in NE/E/S/W aspects. Poor visibility makes assessment on-site difficult. Slabs can be medium-to-large sized. In very steep terrain and wind-loaded terrain, isolated naturally triggered avalanches with cloud are possible, They can grow to medium-to-large size and reach great run-out lengths.

The abundant fresh snow is compacter than the powder from yesterday. Thus, proneness to triggering is high. Beneath the fresh snow (40-60 cm) there are melt-freeze crusts with faceted weak layers which can now be triggered. Wind-exposed terrain at high altitude is utterly windblown, most of the fresh snow is found at forest rims and on the south-facing slopes.

On Saturday, inhospitable conditions, zero visibility, heavy snowfall all day long. Fresh snow in 24 hours: 30-40 cm, more in barrier cloud regions. Above the treeline, a strong-to-stormy northerly wind is blowing at 50-70 km/hr. Temperature at 2000 m: -7 degrees. On Sunday, poor visibility will continue, snowfall slacken off, then come to an end. Winds will ease. Temperatures will remain unchanged.

On Sunday, still treacherous. On Monday, slowly receding danger levels.