Lower Tauern South

Danger zones for slab avalanches above 2200 m

Danger zones for slab avalanches above 2200 m

Avalanche danger above 2200 m is generally MODERATE, below that altitude danger is LOW. Below 2200 m potential dangers of highly isolated glide-snow avalanches on extremely steep slopes. Mostly small-to-medium sized. Above 2200 m, dry-snow slab avalanches can be triggered by large additional loading. Caution in transitions from shallow to deep snow. Potential slabs can grow to dangerously large size. Treacherous: N/E/S aspects. Danger zones are often evident in areas distant from ridgelines. The snowpack surface remains mostly hardened in zones not directly exposed to sunlight. Danger of falling.

Up to 2200/2400 m the snow is moist and has a melt-freeze crust which is capable of bearing loads. On purely sunny slopes this crust softens somewhat, in the other aspects it remains hard. Above 2200/2400 m the terrain is utterly windblown. Potential fracture layer (faceted, soft) is located beneath the last melt-freeze crust from mid-December. Elsewhere the old snowpack is compact, not prone to triggering.

On Sunday, initially sunny, some high-altitude cirrus clouds, densifying as of midday, light conditions becoming more diffuse. Winds will slacken off noticeably, blow only at light to moderate strength. At 2000 m: from +9 cooling to +5 degrees, at 3000 m from +2 to -1 degree. On Monday, strong-to-stormy westerly winds. Visibility mostly adequate. Precipitation will be minor, sporadic. At 2000 m: -2 degrees; at 3000 m: -8 degrees.

No significant change on Monday.