Lower Tauern Central

Rising temperatures, often trigger-prone snowdrift accumulations

Rising temperatures, often trigger-prone snowdrift accumulations

Avalanche danger is moderate. Fresh snowdrift accumulations can be triggered by 1 person in some places above 1800 m, often medium sized. Danger zones increase with ascending altitude, the drifts are easily recognized for the experienced. Avoid them in steep ridgeline terrain (>30°). Due to rain impact up to above 2000 m, glide-snow activity will increase slightly. Where snow depths are sufficient, large-sized avalanches are possible (most medium-sized). Avoid zones below glide cracks. Due to rain impact, naturally triggered loose-snow avalanches can be expected in extremely steep terrain, mostly small-sized releases.

On Wednesday night, 5-15 cm of fresh snow is expected, accompanied by wind. Fresh and older snowdrift accumulations have been deposited atop soft layers of facted crystals and atop surface hoar: these are trigger-prone weak layers, the drifts constitute the slab. Older snowdrift accumulations unlikely to trigger, only by large additional loading, otherwise the old snowpack is stable. Due to rainfall the surface layers will forfeit their firmness. The ground is warm, reinforcing the tendency of the entire snowpack to glide downhill over smooth ground (rocks, grass).

On Thursday, clouds will disperse in the morning hours, intermittent sunshine is expected. Dry until evening. Winds light. At 2000 m: +1 degree. On Thursday night: snowfall and measurably dropping temperatures.

Avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly.