Wölz Tauern South

Heed snowdrifts accumulations above the timberline

Heed snowdrifts accumulations above the timberline

In the Northern Alps, Niedere Tauern, Gurktal and Seetal Alps, moderate avalanche danger prevails below the treeline, considerable danger above the treeline. Avalanche prone locations are found in N/E/S aspects on very steep slopes. Critical zones are distant from ridgelines, behind protruberances in the landscape. Minimum additional loading is sufficient to trigger a slab avalanche. At intermediate altitudes on extremely steep grass-covered slopes, isolated glide-snow slides are possible.

The most recent round of cold snowfall on Thursday (10-30 cm) was transported on Friday by strong SW winds, deposited drifts on N/E slopes. As winds shifted back to NW again, new snowdrift accumulations were generated on Saturday, deposited on east-facing and south-facing slopes. Due to repeatedly shifting wind directions in recent days the layers of the snowpack have attained highly differing degrees of hardness. Particularly the softer layers which were generated in warm phases can now act as potential weak layers. The snowpack has not been able to settle, due to the low temperatures, thus the unfavourable layering persists.

The Eastern Alps lie in the range of influence of a NW air current. On Sunday, minor snowfall is expected on the northern flank of the Alps from low lying clouds in the morning in particular. Starting at midday the clouds may disperse, at least in the Dachstein and Ausseerland regions, further to the east the heavy cloud will persist. Further to the south, partly cloudy, free of precipitation, more frequent sunshine. Above the treeline in all mountain regions, a strong to storm-strength NW wind will be blowing. On the northern flank of the Alps, temperatures at midday at 2000 m will be -9 degrees, at 1500 m -6 degrees. In the southern massifs it will be milder: -6 to -4 degrees.On Sunday night cloud cover will move in, bringing a warm front. The summits will disappear in fog, frequent snowfall/rainfall is anticipated, less towards the south. Temperatures will rise noticeably, the snowfall level will rapidly ascend to far above 1000 m during the daytime.

As temperatures rise, the snowpack will slowly settle, danger of slab avalanches will diminish. Due to rainfall, on the other hand, the danger of glide-snow and wet-snow slides will temporarily increase.