Wölz Tauern South

HIGH avalanche danger above the treeline. Trigger-sensitive weak layers in the drifts.

HIGH avalanche danger above the treeline. Trigger-sensitive weak layers in the drifts.

Above the treeline, HIGH avalanche danger (Danger Level 4) prevails, below that altitude the danger is MODERATE. Strong-to-stormy NW winds combined with snowfall are generating fresh snowdrift accumulations in gullies and bowls in all aspects near to and distant from ridgelines, also in sparsely wooded zones. Small-to-medium sized slab avalanches can be triggered even by one person. Weak layers are prone to triggering, can be released even by one person and grow to large size. Poor visibility makes assessment of dangers on-site very difficult. In addition, naturally triggered slab and loose-snow avalanches are possible on steep slopes in all aspects. Below the treeline, also naturally triggered wet slab and loose-snow avalanches are possible in forested zones and on grass-covered slopes due to the brief round of rainfall or sleet. These can endanger transport roads.

Wednesday brought only a bit of fresh snow, by Thursday evening another 20-40 cmmore will arrive. Further south, hardly any fresh snow. The snow will be intensely transported by stormy NW winds, deposited in all aspects in gullies and bowls atop bonded snowdrift masses. The drifts themselves lie atop a compact old snowpack or older drifts. Weak layers lurk inside the fresh snow and drifts and in transitions to the existing old snowpack. Temporary rainfall or sleet below 1000 m will moisten the snowpack. Through the additional weight on the weak layers and loss of bonding, naturally triggered wet loose-snow and slab avalanches will be generated.

A strong NW air current is bringing stormy winds and some snowfall. Snowfall will start on Thursday morning, persist until evening and be heavy in the afternoon (snowfall level 800-1000 m, rainfall lower down). Up to 20 cm of fresh snow is possible, amid strong NW winds. At 2000 m: -6 degrees; the zero-degree level lies at 1200 m. The snowfall will persist until Friday morning, then ease. The snowfall level will ascend to nearly 1000-1200 m during the day. Strong NW winds will continue to blow. At 2000 m: -4 degrees, the zero-degree level will ascend to 1500 m during the course of the day.

Slightly rising temperatures increase the chances of naturally triggered avalanches, the danger level will increase.