Wölz Tauern South

Caution: trigger-sensitive snowdrifts

Caution: trigger-sensitive snowdrifts

In Northern Alps, Niedere Tauern and Gurktal and Seetal Alps, moderate avalanche danger prevails; above the treeline, danger is considerable. Avalanche prone locations are found in eastern and northern aspects. Critical areas lie distant from ridgelines and behind protuberances in the landscape. A slab avalanche can be triggered even by minimum additional loading. Breaking cornices and naturally triggered slab avalanches continue to be possible due to the new amounts of fresh snow. At intermediate altitudes, isolated glide-snow slides are possible on extremely steep grass-covered slopes.

On Monday night, surface hoar formed on the surface. The forecast fresh snow has been deposited on a softened layer, thus, an additional potential weak layer threatens. As a result of quickly fluctuating temperatures, the old snowpack is composed of numerous varied layers. Additional weak layers are evident inside the old snowpack. Due to very low temperatures, the snowpack has not been able to settle.

The peaks will be veiled in fog, snowfall is expected which will regionally be heavy during the morning. In the zone of the Northern Alps, up to 30 cm of fresh snow is anticipated. During the course of the day, snowfall will slacken off, in the Upper Murtal some bright intervals are possible. Temperatures will drop at all altitudes, at 2000 m we can expect -9 degrees. Winds will shift to northwesterly and intensify ongoingly; in the afternoon winds will be brisk to stormy. Friday: On Friday, winds will temporarily shift to southwesterly, in the Northern Alps foehn wind will be blowing. In the morning it will be predominantly sunny, in the afternoon cloudbanks will move in from the west. The higher peaks of the Niedere Tauern will be shrouded in fog.

Caution: fresh snowdrift accumulations will form again on north-facing slopes on Friday. FOEHN!