Lower Tauern Central

Snowdrift accumulations prone to triggering in steep wind-loaded terrain

Snowdrift accumulations prone to triggering in steep wind-loaded terrain

Avalanche danger above the timberline is MODERATE, below that altitude danger is LOW. Avalanche prone locations are found in steep wind-loaded zones (gullies, steep bowls, forest clearances, etc.) and generally in ridgeline terrain in NW/E/S aspects. The freshly generated snowdrift accumulations often lie next to windblown, hardened knolls, are easily recognized. Fresh drifts are prone to triggering. In some places, even minimum additional loading is sufficient to trigger a small-to-medium slab avalanche. Above the treeline, the frequency of possible trigger points increases swiftly with ascending altitude.

About 5-15 cm of fresh snow has fallen, accompanied by storm-strength W/NW winds which will transport the new fallen snow over wide-ranging areas. On shady slopes the base consists of expansively metamorphosed (faceted) snow and surface hoar in shady, wind-protected gullies, bowls and forest clearances, i.e. potential fracture points; elsewhere mostly breakable wind crusts, and on sunny slopes melt-freeze crusts or moist old snow. The old snowpack is generally stable, tends towards fracture propagation only in isolated cases with large additional loading (in a faceted layer beneath the melt-freeze / rain crust which formed at the New Year.

On Wednesday, much sunshine, good visibility from the start. Winds light, no disturbance. At 2000 m: 0 degrees; at 3000 m: -5 degrees. On Thursday, poor conditions in the mountains. In the Northern Alps, often heavy snowfall, reduced visibility (as elsewhere), about 10-20 cm of new snow is anticipated, up to 30 cm in Steinernes Meer/ Tennengebirge/ Gosaukamm. Winds will be strong to stormy from the west. At 2000 m: -9 degrees; at 3000 m: -17 degrees.

As a result of new snow and wind, danger zones will become more numerous, thus raising the danger level on Thursday.