Wölz Tauern South

HIGH avalanche danger above the treeline. Increasing naturally triggered avalanches.

HIGH avalanche danger above the treeline. Increasing naturally triggered avalanches.

Above the treeline, HIGH avalanche danger (Danger Level 4) prevails, below that altitude the danger is CONSIDERABLE. Naturally triggered slab and loose-snow avalanches in steep terrain in all aspects are likely. As the snowpack thickens, avalanches can fracture down to deeper layers. As the snowfall level ascends, more wet slabs of medium size and loose-snow releases from wooded zones are expected, they can even endanger transport roads. Winter tours require immense restraint. Danger zones in the fresh snow and drifts are widespread and easy to trigger, but nearly impossible to recognize in open terrain.

In the last 24 hours there has been 20-50 cm of fresh snow registered widespread, more will come on Thursday night which will be transported by NW winds and deposewt neew drifts on south and east-facing slopes atop loose fresh snow or bonded drifts. Weak layer occur inside the fresh snow and at the borders to the snowpack. As the snowfall level rises and daytime warming is felt, the snowpack below 1200 will moisten and lose firmness.

On the southern flank of the Alps clouds will disperse somewhat during the day, the precipitation will slacken off. Much less precipitation is expected (Thursday night: 10-20 cm of frresh snow) by Friday evening. The snowfall level lies around 1200 m, the zero-degree level at 1500 m. On Friday night, snowfall intensity will gradually increase. On Saturday, light intermittent snowfall until midday, the snowfall level will descend to valley level again, stormy NW wind. Temperature at 2000 m: -10 degrees.

Due to further snowfall and winds, the avalanche situation will remain tense.