Lower Tauern South

Gliding snow activity continues, also small wet-snow avalanches possible

Gliding snow activity continues, also small wet-snow avalanches possible

Avalanche danger is MODERATE. Due to rising temperatures and lots of solar radiation, glide-snow avalanches continue to be the main danger: in all aspects at any time of day or night, medium-sized when triggering from terrain which has not yet discharged, plummeting down to greenlands, esp. in starting zones in extended north-facing terrain. Avoid zones below glide-cracks. As the day progresses, likelihood of small loose-snow slides will increase on sunny slopes and in rough and rocky terrain in all aspects, esp. on very steep W/N/E facing slopes above 2200m.

The fresh snow from Wednesday has bonded and consolidated, became moistened on Thursday in all aspects. Due to nocturnal outgoing radiation, a thin melt-freeze crust forms, softening quickly the next day. Beneath it the snowpack öon W/N/E facing slopes is often isotherm and moistened down to the ground. On sunny slopes the fresh snow has already melted, the slopes are becoming bare again. Glide cracks are a clear danger signal for the entire snowpack gliding downhill over smooth ground. In steep grass-covered terrain which has not yet discharged, glide-snow avalanches can release and plummet down to bare slopes.

The night will have clear skies and be unusually mild. On Friday, good visibility and sunshine, only a few convective clouds. Winds will be light from W/NW. At 2000 m: 5-10 degrees; at 3000 m: 2 degrees.

The snowpack is becoming ever wetter. Hardly any change in avalanche danger levels, latent danger of glide-snow avalanches persists.