Lower Tauern Central

Weak old snow and fresh snowdrifts which are prone to triggering

Weak old snow and fresh snowdrifts which are prone to triggering

Avalanche danger above the treeline is CONSIDERABLE, below that altitude danger is LOW. Freshly generated snowdrift accumulations are found near ridgelines, in foehn lanes also distant from ridgelines on north-facing slopes. They can grow to medium size and are prone to triggering, even by minimum additional loading. Danger zones increase with ascending altitude. Amid diffuse light conditions they can be hard to recognize. Avalanches can be triggered in some places in the weak old snow by the weight of one sole winter sports enthusiast, particularly in transitions from shallow to deep snow. Slabs can reach medium size. It’s possible to trigger a release on shady slopes above 2000 m and on sunny slopes above 2600 m. Caution especially urged in transitions from shallow to deep snow.

Strong southerly winds have transported the snow far-reachingly. The freshly generated snowdrift accumulations lie deposited atop a snowpack showing pronounced effects of wind which is often riddled with graupel. On shady slopes at high altitudes and in high alpine regions, on sunny slopes above 2600 m, there are expansively metamorphosed (faceted) crystal layers. The snowpack at altitudes is highly irregular.

On Tuesday: southerly winds will intensify over the course of the day, reaching 60 km/hr in the afternoon. Tauern peaks will often be shrouded in cloud from the south, a bit of snowfall is possible. In the Northern Alps clouds will be scattered, some sunny intervals are expected in the morning in particular. At 2000 m: -7 degrees; at 3000 m: -13 degrees. On Tuesday night, more snowfall in all regions, focus in the south.

Increase in avalanche danger levels due to fresh snow and wind.