Lower Tauern South

Danger zones increasing during the course of the day

Danger zones increasing during the course of the day

Avalanche danger will increase in the course of the day, reach Danger Level 3 (Considerable) in the afternoon Morning: Fresh snowdrift accumulations formed by strong-to-stormy southerly winds since Thursday are highly prone to triggering. They can be released even by one sole winter sports enthusiast particularly on shady slopes above the timberline, and grow to medium size. Danger zones are found particularly behind abrupt discontinuities in the terrain, in gullies and bowls, and in general in relatively wind-protected zones where the snowpack is distributed regularly over large areas. Afternoon: with increasing precipitation and shifting wind direction on Saturday afternoon, avalanche prone locations will get blanketed with fresh snow, making them impossible to recognize. New, fresh snowdrift accumulations will be generated which will increase in spread and in size. They occur in all aspects.

Particularly on shady slopes, the snowpack layering is currently unfavourable. Generally the lower part of the (still shallow) snowpack consists of a sequence of melt-freeze crusts and faceted crystals which (depending on altitude) have been formed over the recent weeks and months. In isolated cases the weak snowpack fundament in wind-protected terrain above the timberline is blanketed by newer snowdrift accumulations which are quite prone to triggering. Wind and fresh fallen snow will generate new snowdrift accumulations on Saturday afternoon in particular. In wind-protected terrain, near the forest zones or on high alpine meadows and in forest clearances below the treeline, there is frequently surface hoar on the snowpack surface which the fresh snow will then blanket. In heavily wind-influenced regions (particularly from southerly foehn wind) the situation is somewhat better: the snowpack is irregularly distributed and diversified. Weak layers are less extensive, avalanche releases will be smaller. Moreover, surface hoar is not a danger there, as a potential triggerer of avalanches.

Saturday: mountains wreathed in heavy fog, a small amount of snowfall in the morning, becoming heavier in the afternoon. At high altitudes, moderately-strong NW winds will arise. At 2000 m: temperatures will drop from -3 to -8 degrees; at 3000 m, -8 degrees. Sunday: the peaks will still be shrouded in clouds, a bit of intermittent snowfall anticipated. At high altitudes, NW winds will reach speeds of 80 km/hr, thus transporting the snow. It is very cold. At 2000 m, -13 degrees; at 3000 m, -17 degrees. The temperatures are further sharpened by the wind.

Avalanche danger will increase on Saturday night. Fresh fallen snow and moderate-to-strong NW winds and low temperatures will lead to intensive snow transport. Fresh snow and fresh snowdrifts deposited atop the old snowpack are highly trigger-sensitive. Also naturally triggered avalanches are likely.