Wölz Tauern South

Storm. Very unfavorable backcountry touring conditions.

Storm. Very unfavorable backcountry touring conditions.

Avalanche danger above the treeline in parts of the Niedere Tauern is high. Storm winds are transporting huge amounts of fresh snow. Also in forest lanes and clearances, drifts are being deposited. Naturally triggered loose-snow and slab avalanches can release at any time. Backcountry tourers can trigger a slab avalanche with the weight of one person.

In the last 24 hours there has been 20-40 cm of fresh snow registered, particularly on east-facing slopes. Potential weak layers are the soft layers inside the snowpack, and the faceted crystals in the old snow beneath a melt-freeze crust. The crust can be fracture through if an avalanche is triggered.

A pronounced warm front will have Styria in its grip by evening, bringing widespread snowfall, after midnight at low altitudes also sleet, rain or frozen rain. In the Northern Alps above 600-800 m great masses of fresh snow are anticipated. On Wednesday in the Northern Alps and along the Main Tauern Ridge, intensive snowfall will continue. In zones below 500-800 m there will be intermittent rain or sleet. In 24 hours an additional 30-50 cm of fresh snow is expected. Stormy NW winds will continue to rage, in exposed zones reaching gale strength. At 2000 m: winds will be 60-120 km/hr, temperature -7 degrees.

Slowly, weather conditions will improve. In the morning, still some snow showers north of the Main Alpine RIdge in particular, in the afternoon it will be mostly dry and clouds will disperse somewhat. Temperatures will rapidly rise. The high avalanche danger will persist. Wet naturally triggered avalanches will become more frequent.