Lower Tauern South

Snowdrift problem, esp. at high altitude

Snowdrift problem, esp. at high altitude

Avalanche danger above 2300 m is MODERATE, below that altitude LOW. As a result of snowfall and strong westerly winds, fresh snowdrift masses have been formed, prone to triggering, particularly on steep (>30°) N/E facing slopes above 2200 m. Danger zones occur behind abrupt discontinuities in the terrain, in gullies and bowls, the size and trigger-sensitivity increasing with ascending altitude. In the areas where snowfall has been heaviest the danger zones are larger and more numerous, the danger correspondingly higher. On steep grassy slopes small-to-medium glide snow avalanches continue to be possible. Avoid zones below glide cracks. In addition, due to solar radiation in the areas where snowfall has been heavy, small naturally triggered loose-snow avalanches can be expected in steep rocky terrain.

There has been 10-20 cm of fresh snow registered, amid strong-to-stormy winds which transported the snow in highly irregular fashion. The snowdrifts were deposited in gullies and bowls; the crests and ridges are snowblown bare. The snowdrifts lie particularly atop soft layers, on shady slopes at high altitudes. On high-alpine north-facing slopes the layer above 2300 m is often unfavourable due to a sequence of melt-freeze crusts and faceted crystals. This applies particularly to wind-protected slopes. Below 2300 m the precipitation often fell as rain, which is leading to increasingly frequent wet-snow and glide-snow avalanches. Du to the dropping temperature on Saturday, the snowpack has stabilised. On Sunday it will be quite mild, the zero-degree level will ascend to above 3000 m. Thereby the snowdrifts will rapidly consolidate. Below 1800 m there is little snow on the ground.

Sunday: On Christmas Day, very fine weather with lots of sunshine. Residual cloud and fogbanks will recede, visibility will be unhindered. Winds wil be light. It will be very mild. At 2000 m: 2-7 degrees; at 3000 m at midday, 0 degrees. Monday: Above the layers of fog, visibility on Boxing Day will be very good, only some cirrus clouds far above summit level. Winds will be mostly light except on the Main Tauern Ridge (30-40 km/hr) from the south. Still mild: at 2000 m at midday 4 degrees, at 3000 m 0 degrees.

Avalanche danger will decrease somewhat. Snowdrift accumulations are prone to triggering only in isolated cases in high alpine regions.