Lower Tauern North

Some snowdrifts, lots of gliding snow

Some snowdrifts, lots of gliding snow

Avalanche danger is moderate. The fresh snow and drifts from Thursday and Friday bonded on Saturday. The surface is dominated by crusts (melt-freeze or wind). Loose powder can be found on shady wind-protected slopes at intermediate altitudes. The snowpack base is well bonded. Since the snowpack is thoroughly wet at low/intermediate altitudes (the first snow was deposited on very warm ground) the entire snowpack can glide over smooth ground (grass, rocks) if the gradient is steep enough.

On Saturday the snowpack was able to settle somewhat and consolidate. Melt-freeze crusts dominate on the surface, or wind crusts in exposed terrain. Crests are completely windblown. Powder snow on shady wind-protected slopes (sink-in depths 10-50 cm). Snowdrifts from Thursday and Friday (in high alpine regions also on Saturday) were deposited on loose snow, the weak layer is mostly inside the fresh snow at the border to the old snowpack. Since the snowpack is thoroughly wet at low/intermediate altitudes (the first snow was deposited on very warm ground) the entire snowpack can glide over smooth ground (grass, rocks) if the gradient is steep enough.

On Sunday, sunshine all day except for some harmless clouds. Good visibility. Light winds from varying directions (NW on Main Alpine Ridge at 30 km/hr). Very mild: 4-7 degrees at 2000 m, 0 degrees at 3000 m.

The warmth will help the snowpack to settle further, the snowdrift problem will diminish. The glide-snow avalanches will persist.