Lower Tauern South

Treacherous - considerable new-snow and snowdrift problem

Treacherous - considerable new-snow and snowdrift problem

After the intense snowfall, avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE from the start. Both below the treeline and above it. In the areas where snowfall was heaviest the danger lies in the upper rungs of the danger level. Above forest rims, medium-to-large sized slab avalanches can be easily triggered. In steep terrain, even the weight of one sole skier/boarder is sufficiente, particularly in N/E/SW aspects. In extremely steep terrain where snowfall has been heavy, naturally triggered avalanches can release. This can occur in all aspecdts. Below the treeline,

On Tuesday over a short span of time, 40-60 cm of fresh snow will fall widespread, more in the northern barrier cloud regions. With the wind, snow transport will be massive. The snowdrift accumulations will fracture most probably at the borderline to the old snowpack or just above it. More deeply embedded weak layers (beneath the hardened snowdrift masses from the weekend or around the upper crusts of the old snowpack from December) will probably not be relevant on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, stormy northerly winds (60-80 km/hr) and snow showers. Some clouds will disperse in between. At 2000 m: -9 degrees, at 3000 m -17 degrees. On Tuesday night and during the day on Wednesday, intermittent snowfall. Some cloud dispersal. At 2000 m: -6 degrees, at 3000 m, -14 degrees. Fresh snow by Wednesday evening: 15-30 cm. Further east, less. Further west, more.

Snowdrift accumulations atop a weak old snowpack. Treacherous due to amounts of new snow. Danger Level can rise to HIGH (4).