Weisseck, Muhr Valley

Avalanche prone locations in wind slab, in the higher altitudes also in persistent weak layers

Avalanche prone locations in wind slab, in the higher altitudes also in persistent weak layers

The avalanche risk is considerable from the sparse high forest upwards and low below. The fresh wind slab is prone to triggering and can be triggered in many places with little additional load; slab avalanches can reach medium size. All aspects and both adjacent to ridgelines and steep terrain far from ridgelines are affected. Drift snow areas are partly covered with snow and are difficult to recognise.

At high altitudes (especially on western, northern and eastern slopes), avalanches can also penetrate the persistent weak layer and occasionally become large if there is a large additional load.

Last week's new and wind slab snow has settled and has already crusted again on sunny slopes up to over 2000 metres. There is up to 40 cm of new fallen snow in windless areas, while exposed areas are heavily blown and snowdrift accumulations are correspondingly thick. Fractures are possible in particular in the fresh windslab snow, but in some cases also in the old snowpack, in which faceted crystals (sometimes on crusts) and deep frost weaken the structure both near the surface and deeper inside. This mainly affects shady high altitudes and generally high alpine locations.

During the night, heavy snow showers will pass through with gale force winds from the northwest. Tomorrow, Tuesday, the mountains will often be covered in clouds and it will continue to snow, especially in the morning. Together with the previous night's precipitation, 20 to 30 cm of new fallen snow is expected at higher altitudes. The showers will become much less frequent in the afternoon, with some clearing in between. Brisk to strong north-westerly winds, peaking at around 80 km/h at high altitudes in the Tauern mountains. Temperatures at 2000 metres around -9 degrees, at 3000 metres around -15 degrees.

Weakening snowfall and wind lead to a slow improvement.