Lower Tauern South

freshly generated snowdrift accumulations due to northerly foehn winds

freshly generated snowdrift accumulations due to northerly foehn winds

Avalanche danger above the treeline is MODERATE, below that altitude danger is LOW. Fresh snowdrifts will form on Friday on south-facing slopes, but even older snowdrift accumulations can be triggered. Snowdrifts can be triggered as a medium-size slab avalanches even by minimum additional loading. In high alpine regions, superficial avalanche releases - including danger zones distant from ridgelines - can then fracture down to more deeply embedded layers inside the snowpack and grow to large size.

The fresh fallen snow from the beginning of this week has settled, but is still loose. Due to nights of clear skies, surface hoar has formed which is then blanketed by snowdrifts generated by intensifying northerly winds. Wherever the sun has moistened the snowpack superficially on Wednesday, a thin melt-freeze crust was able to form. Particularly on shady slopes, the snowdrift accumulations are inadequately bonded with the old snowpack. Potential fracture points for slab avalanches lie mostly in the very cold and loose now-blanketed snow. Apart from that there are weak layers inside the old snowpack: melt-freeze crusts and depth hoar in the fundament.

On Friday, the peaks will mostly be shrouded in fog-like clouds. In the Lungau Nockberge there will be extended dry phases, but northerly foehn winds will be blowing. AT 2000 m: about -11 degrees, at 3000 m: -12 degrees. Also on Saturday, mostly heavy cloud over the mountains, only the highest summits will be in the clear. Light snowfall is possible during the course of the day.

Little change is expected.