Lower Tauern South

Rain weakens the snowpack

Rain weakens the snowpack

The avalanche risk is moderate. Wet loose snow and slab avalanches are already possible in the morning on slopes that have not yet been unloaded. This is the case in those aspects where snow still covers the entire area. Avalanches can occur spontaneously or be triggered by winter sports. They usually remain medium in size, but with the accumulation of wet snow and tearing through to weak layers close to the ground, large avalanches are possible in exceptional cases. Caution should also be exercised in the apery run-out areas of ditches. There are isolated signs of sliding snow activity.

In a few places above 2200 m in the extended northern sector, weak layers can still be disturbed directly in the persistent weak layer and lead to medium-sized slab avalanches if there is a large additional load.

It is slightly colder than before. Despite this, the snowpack has difficulty cooling down overnight and is already softened in the morning. Underneath is well-settled snow from the last periods of precipitation. On shady slopes from around 2200 metres, there are still weak layers of angular forms and deep rime in the old snowpack close to the ground. The snowpack becomes moist to wet up to high altitudes during daytime changes at the latest. Low and sunny slopes are covered in snow.

During the night, some new fallen snow will fall off the main Alpine ridge and in the Nockberge mountains (snowfall level just above 2000 metres). The wind will weaken, only in the high Alps will there still be peaks of around 70 km/h in the first half of the night. It will remain very cloudy throughout the night. Tomorrow, Tuesday, dense clouds will predominate with occasional rain and snowfall, with visibility severely limited everywhere in the high Alps. Snow will fall above 1800 to 2200 metres. By the evening, a total of 5 to 10 cm of new fallen snow will accumulate at high altitudes. Only weak winds from the west to northwest. At 2000 m 1 to 3 degrees, at 3000 m around -3 degrees.

The wet snow problem remains.