Wölz Tauern North

Persistent weak layer problem in northern and eastern sectors, covered by fresh wind slab!

Persistent weak layer problem in northern and eastern sectors, covered by fresh wind slab!

The avalanche risk is assessed as moderate above the tree line and low below. There is still a persistent weak layer problem in the northern and eastern exposures. In addition, fresh pillows of wind drifted snow could form, which can be triggered as a small slab avalanche with a small additional load. Medium-sized slab avalanches are also possible when breaking through the weak old snowpack. The danger areas are mainly located in the transition from little to more snow as well as behind terrain edges and in the entrance area of gullies and bowls. The avalanche prone locations are sometimes difficult to recognise due to a few centimetres of new fallen snow.

The total snow depth is well below average. A few centimetres of new fallen snow and strong winds have created fresh pillows of wind drifted snow, some of which have been deposited on surface hoar or a soft snow surface. These cover a very variable and mostly hardness old snowpack. There is significantly more snow in shady gullies and bowls than on sunny slopes. In the northern and eastern exposures, the snowpack is still weakened by layers with faceted crystals and floating snow (persistent weak layer problem!).

Rain and snow at times, especially in the first half of the night. The snowfall level will be around 1000 metres. Tomorrow, Thursday, will be mostly cloudy, with clouds and fog dominating and visibility usually very limited. The temperature at an altitude of 2000 metres will be around 0 degrees. The temperature at an altitude of 1500 metres will be around 2 degrees. Moderate to brisk winds with gusts around 40 km/h from the south. The wind will weaken in the afternoon.

On Friday, there will be a brief intermittent high with some sunny spells. In the afternoon, it will start to get cloudy again from the west. No change in the avalanche danger is expected.