Wölz Tauern South

Wind-loaded east-facing slopes. Fresh snowdrift accumulations.

Wind-loaded east-facing slopes. Fresh snowdrift accumulations.

Avalanche danger above the treeline is considerable. Danger zones are located in ridgeline terrain and behind abrupt discontinuities in the terrain. Particular caution is urged on high altitude north and east-facing slopes. Fresh snowdrifts have been deposited on top of an unfavourable old snowpack surface (persistent weak layer) on east-facing slopes. The drifts should not be underestimated at high altitudes! A slab release is possible even with minimum additional loading. Caution urged towards fresh cornices, they are easily triggered.

In the Niedere Tauern, 10-20 cm of cold snow has fallen. Winds from the northwest are strong. Fresh snowdrifts are being accumulated, deposited on east and south-facing slopes. The fresh drifts have blanketed the old snowdrifts, beneath which is a soft loose layer. Inside the fundament on shady slopes lies a sequence of melt-freeze crusts and faceted layers. This is a persistent weak layer problem! On sunny slopes the old snowpack is icy and hard. All in all, unfavourable snowpack layering.

Summit zones will be shrouded all day long in heavy cloud, light snowfall is expected in Upper Styria. Winds will be strong, especially in the afternoon at high altitudes. At 2000 m: -13 degrees, with the windchill added it seems far colder. Little change in weather conditions is expected: heavy cloud, intermittent snowfall in Upper Styria. Strong winds from the northwest. The southern mountain massifs will probably remain dry.

On Saturday, another 20 cm of fresh snowfall is expected, amid strong winds. Avalanche danger will remain considerable.