Lower Tauern South

Evaluate snowdrifts and persistent weak layer problem with great caution

Evaluate snowdrifts and persistent weak layer problem with great caution

Avalanche danger above 2000m is MODERATE, below that altitude danger is low. In all aspects, small-to-medium slab avalanches can be triggerd by minimum additional loading in places. Danger zones occur mostly near ridgelines and behind protruberances in the landscape. Size and frequency of danger zones tend to increase with ascending altitude. As of 2300m, releases can fracture down to more deeply embedded layers inside the snowpack and grow to larger size. Small glide-snow and loose-snow avalanches can trigger naturally. Avalanche danger above 2000m is MODERATE, below that altitude danger is low. Slabs, mostly small-sized, can be triggered even by minimum additiional loading both near to and distant from ridgelines and behind protruberances in the landscape on north, northwest and south facing slopes. If they fracture down to more deeply embedded layers in the snowpack the releases can grow to medium size. On extremely steep sunny slopes, small loose-snow avalanches are possible.

Fresh and older snowdrift masses lie atop a thin rain crust above 2200-2400m, on steep sunny slopes atop a melt-freeze crust which is only partially capably of bearing loads. Near the crusts are weak layers of faceted, expansively metamorphosed crystals. In wind-protected terrain the fresh snow is still very loosely-packed, winds have generated a bonded slab. The border to the old snowpack and loosely-packed snow inside the snowdrifts can serve as a weak layer, more deeply embedded weak layers are triggerable only in isolated cases. On extremely steep sunny slopes, s loose-snow avalanches are possible. Particularly in shady zones where the snow is shallow there are weak ground-level layers from early winter.

During the night, light snowfall will slacken off before midnight, clouds will then disperse increasingly. All in all, maximum 5cm of fresh snow is anticipated. On Thursday, final residual clouds in the Northern Alps, soon dispersing. Elsewhere very sunny and good visibility. Winds will be light to moderate from the east. Milder air masses will come in at high altitudes. At 2000m: rising from -8 to 0 degrees; at 3000m: from -13 to -4 degrees.

Snowdrift problem is receding