Wölz Tauern South

Fresh wind slab in the high altitudes!

Fresh wind slab in the high altitudes!

The avalanche danger is rated as "moderate" above the tree line. The stormy wind forms fresh wind slabs, which are usually easily recognisable. Above the tree line, the fresh wind slab can easily be triggered as a slab avalanche. Medium-sized avalanches are typically expected. The avalanche prone locations are on lee slopes both adjacent to ridgelines and distant from ridgelines and in steep gullies and bowls.

The strong to stormy winds have continued to work the snow and have led to smaller, fresh snowdrift accumulations. The wind slab is usually quite hard. Weak layers are to be expected within the drift snow layer. The old snowpack is mostly hard and the snowpack near the ground is weakened by floating snow in shady high areas.

South of the main Alpine ridge, it will continue to snow heavily in the Niedere Tauern during the night and during the day on Tuesday, mostly directly on the main Alpine ridge (showers spreading from the north). The snowfall level will start at around 600 metres and then drop down to the valleys. The peaks are often in the clouds and visibility is poor. The temperature at 2000 metres above sea level is around -7 degrees. The wind blows strong to gale-force from north-west to north.

On Wednesday, the wind will shift to the north-east. Mostly clouds, but no more new fallen snow. The wind slab problem remains.