Lower Tauern South

AVOID steep wind-loaded zones

AVOID steep wind-loaded zones

Danger from snowdrifts above the treeline is CONSIDERABLE, just below the treeline danger is MODERATE. Danger zones occur near to and distant from ridgelines, in steep forest lanes, and clearances in sparsely wooded zones. This includes gullies in all aspects but particularly in NW/E/S aspects. To trigger a medium-sized slab avalance, only the weight of one sole person is necessary. In extremely steep terrain, small loose-snow avalanches are possible.

As a result of storm winds on Friday, about 25 cm of fresh snow was registered, more in some places. Exposed terrain is windblown, wind-pressed or melt-freeze encrusted (often big wind swirls in high alpine terrain). The drists often lie deposited atop older drifts (E/S aspects, gullies) or atop older loose old snow (in wind-protected terrain). Potential fracture points on Saturday: mostly inside the latest masses of fresh snow, less often around the uppermost crust of the old snowpack.

On Saturday most peaks will be free, dense clouds above that altitude. Pale sunshine, NW winds at 40-60 km/hr in exposed terrain. Slightly higher temperatures: at 2000 m -4 degrees, at 3000 m: -5 degrees. On Sunday, storm! In exposed terrain, gale-strength gusts are possible. On Saturday night and during the day on Sunday, light snowfall (up to 5 cm) which will get utterly windblown. Colder. At 2000 m: -8 degrees, and dropping further, at 3000 m: -10 degrees.

Initially little change. Storm winds and fresh snowdrift accumulations will make the day on Sunday. Rising avalanche danger from Monday to Wednesday, due to abundant fresh snow.