Lower Tauern South

Beware snowdrifts at high altitudes

Beware snowdrifts at high altitudes

Avalanche danger above 2200 m is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. Snowdrifts generated on Tuesday can still triggered a small slab avalanche, in isolated cases medium-sized, the drifts are easy to recognize, lying deposited both near to and distant from ridgelines, behind discontinuities and in gullies. The foehn-induced drifts from last weekend are unlikely to trigger. Most danger zones are on N/E facing slopes, in high-alpine regions also on south-facing slopes. Above 2300 m isolated weak layers on shady slopes triggerably by large additional loading, large avalanches possible. In steep terrain, small wet loose-snow avalanches and isolated glide-snow avalanches are possible.

Atop a superficially moistened snowpack (up to 2500 m), often melt-freeze encrusted, 5-10 cm of fresh snow lie deposited, often riddled with graupel. Strong W/N winds will transport the fresh snow. The snowfall and snowdrifts from Tuesday were able to settle, are moistened or sticky up to 2600 m. The snowpack is highly irregular due to storm impact. The snowpack is quite irregular. Possible weak layer for a slab or loose-snow avalanches: faceted crystals on the melt-freeze layer above 2400 m. The old snowpack has been repeatedly made wet up to intermediate altitudes. Gliding snow activity has receded.

On Friday night, cloudy skies, rainfall/snowfall, snowfall level at 2000 m, dropping to 1600 m by early morning. At high altitudes, 5 cm of fresh snow expected. On Saturday, reduced visibility, rainfall/snowfall and graupel showers passing through, snowfall above 1600-2000 m, about 5 cm expected. Most sunny phases expected in the Lungau Nockberge. The W/NW winds brisk to strong, reaching 60 km/hr. At 2000 m: 0 degrees; at 3000 m: -6 degrees.

On Sunday, much less wind at all altitudes, only in afternoon the NW winds will reach 30-40 km/hr. Avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly.