Weisseck, Muhr Valley

Southerly foehn wind is generating drifts on north-facing slopes

Southerly foehn wind is generating drifts on north-facing slopes

Avalanche danger above about 2300 m is MODERATE, below that altitude danger is LOW. On north-facing steep slopes (esp. gullies and bowls) the fresh snowdrifts require attentiveness, they are often easily triggered due to the shallowness of the snowpack. The snow plates often fracture, but fractures down to deeper layers will occur only in isolated cases.

Wind exposed terrain is utterly bare, the snow is mostly in gullies and bowls. The snow cover was able to settle in the last couple of days. At high and high alpine altitudes on shady slopes the snowpack layering is often unfavourable, mostly in the lower part (of the still shallow snowpack) is a sequence of melt-freeze crusts and faceted crystals. Atop of that, fresh snowdrift accumulations on the latest batch of new snow.

The peaks will be shrouded in clouds on Friday, visibility often limited, intermittent light snowfall, increasingly slightly in the afternoon. Light NW winds will be blowing, in the Tauern also southerly to start with. At 2000 m, dropping from -2 to -7 degrees; at 3000 m, -7 degrees.On Friday night, about 10-15 m of fresh cold snowfall is anticipated.On Saturday the snowfall will taper off. During the daytime hours clouds will disperse, sunshine will be frequent during the afternoon. In the Tauern, the NW winds will reach speeds of 50 km/hr. At 2000 m, -11 degrees; at 3000 m, -14 degrees.

On Friday night, about 15 cm of fresh snow is anticipated, plus NW winds on Friday. Slight increase in avalanche danger levels.