Lower Tauern South

Fresh and older snowdrift accumulations are prone to disruption

Fresh and older snowdrift accumulations are prone to disruption

The avalanche risk is considerable above the tree line and low below. Slab avalanches can be triggered in some places by even a small additional load and occasionally slide off spontaneously. Avalanches can reach medium size. Avalanche prone locations can be found in all areas adjacent to the ridgeline and area distant from ridgelines, behind terrain edges, in gullies and bowls and also in the forest boundary area. They increase in size and frequency with altitude. Cracks when walking on the snow cover, snowpack indicate the danger. In addition to the risk of burial, the danger of being swept away and falling must be taken into account. There are also many rocks lurking around.

A total of around 60 cm of new fallen snow has fallen in the last few days. Wind and snowfall are constantly forming fresh wind slabs at altitude and the snow can also bind well on the surface due to the warming. Still soft snow, surface hoar as well as faceted crystals above/below the top crust can serve as a weak layer. The rest of the old snowpack is made up 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.

In the evening it rains and snows (about 5 mm/cm). The snowfall level is at 1500 m, the frost line at 2000 m. The precipitation will subside by midnight. On summits, winds from the west will continue to be brisk at times. On Tuesday, visibility will improve significantly during the morning. The sun will shine widely in the afternoon. The initially moderate wind from the south to west will weaken during the day. At 2000 metres around 0 degrees, at 3000 metres around -5 degrees Celsius.

The wind slab gradually settles as the weather warms up.