Lower Tauern South

Keep an eye on snowdrifts at high altitudes

Keep an eye on snowdrifts at high altitudes

Avalanche danger above 2200 m is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. Small wet loose-snow avalanches and isolated glide-snow avalanches can trigger (daytime cycle). In high/high-alpine regions snowdrifts can trigger a slab (small-to-medium), most danger zones are easily recognized, lie neaer to and distant from ridges, behind discontinuities and in gullies. Most danger zones are on NW/N/SE facing steep slopes, also on south-facing slopes in high-alpine terrain. Above 2400 m, esp. on shady slopes, weak layers can be triggered by large additional loading and releases occasionally grow to large size.

Atop a superficially moistened snowpack (up to 2500 m), often melt-freeze encrusted, 5-10 cm of fresh snow lie deposited, often riddled with graupel. Strong W/N winds will transport the fresh snow. The snowfall and snowdrifts from Tuesday were able to settle, are moistened or sticky up to 2600 m. The snowpack is highly irregular due to storm impact. The snowpack is quite irregular. Possible weak layer for a slab or loose-snow avalanches: faceted crystals on the melt-freeze layer above 2400 m. The old snowpack has been repeatedly made wet up 2000 m, most recently from rain impact. Gliding snow activity is currently low.

Tonight, predominantly overcast skies with rainfall/snow showers (5 cm of fresh snow at high altitudes), tapering off during the night, snowfall level 1500-1800 m. On Sunday, adequate visibility, residual fog in the morning, later on cloudbanks will pass through, the peaks will remain in the clear, intermittent sunshine, light-to-moderate W/NW winds. At 2000 m: -3 to +3 degrees; at 3000 m: -6 degrees.

On Monday following a night of overcast skies with rainfall, snowfall above 1500-2000 m, cloudiness will continue during the daytime, hardly any sunshine expected. Avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly.