Lower Tauern Central

Considerable snowdrift problem. AVOID steep wind-impacted terrain.

Considerable snowdrift problem. AVOID steep wind-impacted terrain.

The snowdrift problem above 2000 m is CONSIDERABLE, below that altitude danger is LOW. Avalanche prone locations depend on where the most recent wind impact had its effects. In wind-protected terrain the conditions are favorable. Where recent NW winds blew (often above 2000 m) the avalanche prone locations are concentrated in steep ridgeline terrain. Therefore: watch for signs of recent wind! This applies to gullies, steep bowls, very steep slopes in NE/S/SW aspects. An avalanche can be triggered even by minimum additional loading, i.e. one sole skier, and then grow to large size.

Above 1500 m there is 20-40 cm of fresh snow, on the Main Tauern Ridge up to 50 cm of fresh snow, deposited atop an old, melt-freeze encrusted snowpack surface. Bonding of new snow to old snow is generally good. The soft layer just beneath the crust (faceted crystals from December ) is not easily triggered. Much more easily triggered are the most recent snowdrift accumulations which on Wednesday and Thursday were deposited atop loose and cold layers, sometimes riddled with graupel. inside this layer there were several releases on Thursday, some artificial, some triggered by skiers.

On Friday, light winds, sunshine, perfect visibility. In the afternoon, high-altitude clouds will move in, by evening some light snowfall is possible. At 2000 m: -9 degrees; at 3000 m: -11 to -14 degrees. On Saturday, clouds and sunshine will alternate, the summits will remain free towards the south. At high altitudes, brisk NW winds (up to 40 km/hr). At 2000 m: -8 to -10 degrees; at 3000 m_ -18 to -13 degrees.

Little change on Saturday, Main problem: recent snowpack accumulations and those which will be generated on Saturday.