Lower Tauern South

Trigger-sensitive snowdrift masses, naturally triggered loose-snow avalanches in the afternoon

Trigger-sensitive snowdrift masses, naturally triggered loose-snow avalanches in the afternoon

Avalanche danger above the treeline is MODERATE, below that altitude danger rises from low to moderate in the afternoon. Main danger: snowdrifts, near ridgelines, in gullies and bowls in all aspects. Triggering a usually small-to-medium avalanches is possible by minimum additional loading. In isolated cases, small-to-medium avalanches can be triggered inside the fresh snow (graupel) or in the melt-freeze crust of the old snow. As temperatures rise during the day, small naturally triggered loose-snow avalanches are likely in extremely steep terrain. Also isolated glide-snow avalanches are possible.

By Monday there was 20-40 cm of fresh snow registered far and wide, up to 50 cm in the northern barrier cloud regions. Through winds shifting from westerly to northern to easterly and on Monday also partly from the south, snowdrifts have been generated in all aspects. The fresh snow is mostly well bonded with the old snowpack, particularly at low and intermediate altitudes where there was rainfall at the start of this period of precipitation. The fresh snow has settled somewhat due to rising temperatures. Stability tests show now heightened tendency towards fracture generation but a weak layer could develop at the melt-freeze crust (cold on warm). At low altitudes and on steep sunny slopes up to intermediate altitudes the fresh snow often fell on bare ground.

On Tuesday, very good visibility, sunshine, light winds, higher temperatures. At 2000 m: -6 degrees; at 3000 m: -10 degrees.

Avalanche danger will recede as the snowpack settles.