Lower Tauern North

Pay heed to dangers of falling

Pay heed to dangers of falling

Avalanche danger above the timberline is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. Fresh and older snowdrift accumulations can be triggered by 1 person in some places and release a slab, usually small sized, sometimes medium. Most danger zones are above the treeline on N/E facing slopes and in wind-loaded gullies. A few small loose-snow avalanches/slides can be triggered naturally in steep terrain. Isolated glide-snow avalanches are still a threat, despite lower temperatures. Where snow depths are sufficient, large-sized avalanches are possible (most medium-sized). Avoid zones below glide cracks.

Irregular snowpack surface, occasional powder. Weak layer: the soft lacer beneath the melt-freeze crust (wind crusts and rain-ice crusts) is the likeliest weak layer below the fresh snow and drifts from Friday. The loose snowslides over the latest melt-freeze crust surface. Older snowdrift accumulations unlikely to trigger, only by large additional loading, otherwise the old snowpack is stable.

On Monday night a cold front will pass through bringing snowfall (5-10 cm) and strong westerly winds, the snowfall level rapidly descending from 1500 to nearly 1000 m. On Tuesday daytime, heavily overcast skies, snow showers, snowfall level fluctuating between 800 and 1000 m. Clouds will later disperse, showers become seldom. All in all, about 5 cm of fresh snow is expected. Visibility can be reduced. Strong westerly winds at high altitudes, later slackening off and shifting to southerly. Temperatures dropping. At 2000 m: -5 degrees. On Tuesday night a warm front will pass through, Rainfall is possible up to 2400 m. It will be very windy.

On Wednesday very mild, the gliding snow problem will intensify. Dry-snow avalanches unlikely.