Lower Tauern South

Caution: wet-snow and glide-snow avalanches

Caution: wet-snow and glide-snow avalanches

Avalanche danger above 2200 m is MODERATE, below that altitude danger is LOW. Small to medium slab avalanches can be triggered esp. on N/E facing slopes, mostly by large additional loading or else on extremely steep slopes. This releases the latest fresh fallen snow (10-30cm) which was compressed by winds. Most danger zones occur behind abrupt drops in the terrain and at entries into gullies and bowls. Frequency of avalanche prone locations increases with ascending altitude. Caution urged in extremely steep terrain - danger of falls. Also abrupt drops in the terrain should be circumvented. Naturally triggered glide-snow avalanches are possible in terrain which has not yet discharged, also small loose-snow avalanches (at intermediate altitudes wet, at high altitudes dry) can trigger in rocky steep terrain and possibly sweep away the snow beneath it.

The snowpack is thoroughly wet up to over 2000 m. On Saturday night, clear skies will help a melt-freeze crust to form. At high altitudes, 10-30 cm of fresh snow will be deposited atop the old snowpack. Bonding of uppermost layers deteriorates with ascending altitude.

On Sunday, some sunshine in early morning, then clouds will move in. In the afternoon, rainfall and snowfall from the west will set in. In the Pongau and Lungau, precipitation will not start until 5 or 6 o’clock, the snowfall level will descend from 2000 m down to nearly 1400 m in the evening. In the morning, moderate to brisk southerly winds, in the afternoon winds will shift to northwesterly. At 2000 m: -3 degrees, at midday 0 degreres, towards evening then lower. At 3000m: -8 degrees.

Fresh snow and winds on Monday will increase avalanche danger. Snowdrifts will accumulate.