Totes Gebirge South

Pay attention to fresh wind slab

Pay attention to fresh wind slab

There is a moderate avalanche risk above 2200 metres. The prone to triggering snowdrift accumulations continue to develop due to the stormy north-westerly wind. These can be triggered by individuals as small to medium-sized slab avalanches, especially behind broad ridges and ridgelines in northern, eastern and southern aspects as well as in gullies and bowls. The avalanche prone locations are easily recognisable with sufficient visibility. Pale areas are often covered by a little snow.

The existing snow cover, snowpack is characterised by the strong winds of the last few days. Fresh snowdrift accumulations may form on New Year's Eve with around 15 cm of new fallen snow and persistently strong winds. In many places, they will cover soft layers in the transition to persistent weak layers or existing drift snow packs. The connection between them is poor at high altitudes. On the shady slopes, there are sometimes weak layers of faceted crystals in the old snow foundation. The composition and thickness of the snow cover, snowpack varies greatly in a small area. There is often insufficient old snowpack.

Clouds will play a much bigger role in the mountains of Styria on Friday. The clouds will thicken from both the south and the north during the daytime changes. Towards the evening, it may snow in places in the northern congestion. However, large amounts of new snow are not expected. It will remain very windy and the temperature will drop again at all altitudes. At 2000 metres it will be between -9 and -5 degrees in the afternoon.

In the north of Styria, a few centimetres of new fallen snow will be added in the night from Friday to Saturday. No significant change to the avalanche situation is expected with the influence of wind and cold. Saturday will be quite friendly but cold. The sun will shine almost unclouded for most of the day, with the clouds only thickening from the south during the afternoon.