Lower Tauern South

Assess snowdrifts with caution

Assess snowdrifts with caution

Avalanche danger is MODERATE. Fresh ridgeline snowdrifts in high and high-alpine terrain can trigger a medium slab in isolated cases, most danger zones occur on steep (>30°) N/E/S facing slopes and in wind-loaded gullies and bowls. Frequency of danger zones increases with ascending altitude, they are often difficult to recognize due to diffuse light conditions. In case of solar radiation, small loose-snow avalanches can release in extremely steep terrain.

Atop a thoroughly moist snowpack, 50-80 cm of snow lie deposited at high altitudes. In transitions from the old snowpack to the fresh snow masses, bonding is good, but poor in the upper layers of the fresh snow, due to wind impact. Weak layer! Reserves of cold in the old snow are limited to shady slopes above 2600 m. Gliding snow activity has receded.

On Friday night, 5-10 cm of fresh snow is expected, on Saturday the peaks will be veiled in clouds and repeated bouts of snowfall are expected (5-10 cm) during the day. Visibility severely reduced. Winds moderate to brisk from the northwest. At 2000m: -7 degrees; at 3000 m: -13 degrees.

Snowdrift accumulations will quickly consolidate.