Lower Tauern South

High avalanche danger will persist

High avalanche danger will persist

Avalanche danger is high above 1600 m, below that altitude danger is considerable. Self-restraint is called for. Due to storm winds and large amounts of fresh snow, many avalanches can trigger naturally, possibly reaching medium size. Danger zones in all aspects in wind-protected terrain, increase with ascending altitude. Below 2500 m glide-snow avalanches can release naturally up to summit levels at any time of day, on steep smooth slopes (grass, rocks) in all aspects. Furthermore, due to rain impact wet loose-snow avalanches are possible in extremely steep terrain, mostly small sized.

Stormy winds have done their work on the snowpack, crests and ridges are windblown, snowdrifts lie far from ridgelines. Wide-ranging snowdrifts on shady slopes lie on a loose snowpack surface. Even where the snowpack was encrusted, a weak faceted layer formed prior to the precipitation. There are also weak layers inside the fresh snow. At intermediate to low altitudes, rain and snow are increasing the weight load on the snowpack. The entire snow cover can glide downhill over smooth ground. At high-alpine altitudes above 2500 m, the old snowpack base still has faceted layers.

Persistent and heavy snowfall will continue through the night, focal point in the classic northern barrier cloud regions but also in the Tauern. Near the Osterhorn range max. 20-30 cm expected. Snowfall level will ascend from the west to just over 1000 m in the evening. Snowfall accompanied by high wind impact, the NW wind will often reach gale strength. Intermittent snowfall in the morning, most in the eastern ranges. Visibility severely reduced. Snowfall level initially at 1200 m, later ascending to 1500 m. Precipitation will slacken off in the afternoon, winds from the west will reach 100 km/hr, massive snow transport is the result. At 2000 m: -2 degrees, at 3000 m: -9 degrees.

Snowdrift accumulations are bonding better with the old snowpack surface. Gliding snow problem persists.