Wölz Tauern South

Very isolated not yet settled snowdrifts at high altitudes, glide-snow avalanches in steep terrain

Very isolated not yet settled snowdrifts at high altitudes, glide-snow avalanches in steep terrain

Isolated danger zones for trigger-prone snowdrift accumulations occur in shady terrain above 2300 m, esp. on east-facing steep slopes caution is urged, large additional loading can trigger small-to-medium slab avalanches. In addition, on steep slopes in all aspects naturally triggered glide-snow and wet-snow avalanches can be expected. Open glide cracks are indicators of imminent danger.

Due to starkly rising temperatures and solar radiation from Friday, the fresh snow that fell at the beginning of the week has settled by and large. The evident weak layers have dissolved except on high-altitude shady slopes. The minor precipitation on Saturday was rain below 2000 m, the fresh snow was moist, thus not prone to transport. On sunny slopes the snowpack is mostly isotherm and moist, the surfaces could form a melt-freeze cruset due to lower temperatures on Sunday. On shady slopes there are still reserves of cold at high altitudes. The snowpack in steep terrain on smooth ground glides away up to high altitudes. An area-wide snowpack exists only above the treeline.

In the wake of a minor cold front, high-pressure conditions will move in. Sunday will start with cloud cover, esp. on the northern flank of the Alps, brief rain/snow showers are possible, later on sunnier, and in late afternoon high-altitiude clouds moving in from the west. Light winds. At 2000 m: -1 degree; at 1500 m: +4 degrees. On Monday the next perturbance will arrive in the north, heavy clouds from the start, followed by light snowfall, snowfall level at 1500 m. Isolated showers could spread to the south. The NW winds will be light-to-moderate, temperatures will drop slightly.

Avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly. The gliding snow problem will persist.