Lower Tauern South

Avoid zones below glide cracks

Avoid zones below glide cracks

Avalanche danger is moderate up to 2600 m. Main problem: gliding snow. Glide-snow avalanches can trigger naturally up to 2600 m at any time of day, esp on steep slopes with smooth ground beneath (grass, rocks) in all aspects. They can be medium-sized. Avoid zones below glide cracks. Above 2600 m the dangers of falling outweigh those of avalanches. Weak layers in the old snow can trigger above 2800 m in a few places, usually by large additional loading (groups, cornice collapsing). Releases can be medium-sized. Danger zones increase with ascending altitude.

The snowpack at high altitudes shows harsh wind impact, snow is irregular. At low and intermediate altitudes the snowpack is moist/wet. Up to 2300 m there are rain seepage channels throughout the near-surface part. There are crusts up to 2700 m, also icy films near crusts. The drifts formed over the weekend are generally well bonded with the old snowpack. Some faceted layers are evident, esp. >2800 m near the crusts in transitions.On Thursday night the upper level will freeze, even at low altitudes, and form a crust capable of bearing loads. In the Northern Alps, outgoing radiation is reduced. The crusts can turn to firn snow during the day on Friday. The ground is warm, thus, the entire snowpack is gliding downhill over smooth surfaces.

On Friday, mostly cloudy skies, milky sunshine, heavier cloud cover north of Main Alpine Ridge, esp. in Prealps and Kalkalps. Good visibility, often diffuse light conditions. Light to moderate SW winds, stronger in the Prealps (50 km/hr). At 2000 m: +3 degrees. On Friday night, cloudy skies, getting heavy early Saturday morning.

The danger of glide-snow avalanches will persist.