Weisseck, Muhr Valley

Fresh snowdrifts at high altitude, poor visibility

Fresh snowdrifts at high altitude, poor visibility

Avalanche danger is MODERATE above 2200 m, below that altitude danger is LOW. Fresh snowdrifts have been deposited in gullies and north-facing bowls, often triggerable as a small-to-medium avalanche by minimum additional loading. Poor visibility makes on-site evaluation more difficult. Due to diffuse radiation and daytime warming, loose-snow and isolated slab avalanches or glide-snow avalanches (mostly small, seldom medium) can trigger in extremely steep terrain. Above 2400 m on shady slopes there are isolated danger zones where by large additional loading (a fall, stomping, superficial slab) a slab avalanche can trigger in the old snow which then can grow to large size.

The snowpack at high altitudes shows pronounced effects of the storm-strength southerly foehn winds, often compacted or bonded as snowdrifts. The old snowpack is generally compact, but without reserves of cold. In isolated cases a weak layer has formed around the layer of Sahara dust, but it is not likely to trigger but in exceptional cases.

Saturday night skies will be variably cloudy, gray in the Lungau. At high altitudes, brisk to strong southerly winds. During the daytime on Sunday, sunshine and clouds will take turns north of the Tauern, intermittent light rainfall/snowfall (snowfall level: 1800-2200m). Foehn winds will gradually slacken off. Along the Northern Alps, isolated thunderstorms are possible in afternoon. At 2000 m: 0 degrees. On Monday, heavy cloud will dominate, a bit of frain (snowfall above 1500-1900m). At 2000 m: -2 to +2 degrees. Moderate NW winds.

In high alpine regions on Monday: moderate snowdrift problem, plus some fresh snow. At intermediate altitudes the snowpack is thoroughly wet plus wet-snow problem.