Wölz Tauern South

Poor visibility. Isolated unsettled snowdrifts on shady high-altitude slopes. Naturally triggered glide-snow avalanches in steep terrain.

Poor visibility. Isolated unsettled snowdrifts on shady high-altitude slopes. Naturally triggered glide-snow avalanches in steep terrain.

Isolated danger zones due to trigger-prone snowdrift accumulations occur in isolated cases on shady slopes above 2300 m, esp. on east-facing slopes caution is urged where isolated slab avalanches (small-to-medium) can be triggered by large additional loading. In addition, on steep slopes in all aspects, naturally triggered glide-snow and wet-snow avalanches of medium size are possible at any time of day or night. Open glide cracks are indicators of imminent danger.

Due to the marked rise in temperatures and solar radiation on Friday the fresh snow was able to settle, weak layers were dissolved; only on high-altitude shady slopes are there still older snowdrifts. The precipitation on Saturday was minor (below 2000 m as rain), the fresh snow was moist, thus not transportable. The drop in temperatures on Sunday stabilized the snowpack anew. The minor fresh snow on Monday is not relevant to avalanche danger. On sunny slopes the snowpack is mostly isotherm and moist, shady slopes higher up still have reserves of cold. In steep terrain where the ground is smooth, the snowpack glides downhill. An area-wide snowpack begins only above the treeline.

At night a weak cold front will reach the Eastern Alps from the northwest. Monday will begin with heavy cloud cover, the peaks in fog, intermittent light-to-moderate snowfall on the northern flank of the Alps, snowfall level at 1300 m. Isolated showers possibly spreading to the south. The NW winds mostly moderate. At 2000 m: -4 degrees; at 1500 m: 0 degrees. Also on Tuesday in northern Upper Styria, variable conditions, minor snowfall, most of the peaks in fog. Further south, clouds will disperse, intermittent sunshine. Moderate winds, temperatures dropping somewhat.

Avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly. The gliding snow problem will persist.