Weisseck, Muhr Valley

Lots of new fallen snow and wind require restraint

Lots of new fallen snow and wind require restraint

The avalanche danger is considerable above 2000 metres and moderate below. Slab avalanches can be triggered in drift and new fallen snow in some places by even a small additional load. Avalanches reach medium size. Avalanche prone locations can be found in all aspects, adjacent to the ridgeline or distant from ridgelines, behind terrain edges, in gullies and bowls. They increase in size and frequency with altitude. Older snowdrift accumulations can be covered with snow and difficult to recognise. Cracks when walking on the snow cover, snowpack indicate danger. Spontaneous, mostly small loose snow avalanches can also occur on extremely steep terrain.

A total of 20 to 40 cm of new fallen snow has fallen in the last few days, with another 10 to 20 cm coming overnight. Wind and snowfall are constantly forming fresh wind slabs at altitude. Both the recently fallen soft snow, surface hoar and faceted crystals above/below the uppermost crust can serve as a weak layer. The rest of the old snowpack consists of layers of faceted crystals, deep rime and melt-freeze crusts, where it has little tendency to break up. The total snow depth is still well below average.

It will snow heavily during the night to Sunday, especially in the northern stagnant areas (northern Alps and Hohe Tauern). Widespread 10 cm of new fallen snow, 20 cm in the northern stau. Visibility will improve during the daytime changes on Sunday. In the morning, the mountains will be covered in clouds and it may still snow a little. From midday, the clouds will start to soften and the sun will shine in the afternoon. A brisk, even stormy north-westerly wind will blow in the Tauern mountains, reaching speeds of around 80 km/h. It will be much colder again. At 2000 metres around -16 degrees, at 3000 metres around -21 degrees Celsius.

The wind slab remains prone to triggering.