Lower Tauern South

Treacherous snowdrift situation at high altitudes

Treacherous snowdrift situation at high altitudes

Avalanche danger above 2200 m is CONSIDERABLE, below that altitude danger is moderate. The fresh snowdrifts can in many places and in all aspects be triggered as medium-sized avalanches even by 1 person. Danger zones swiftly increase with ascending altitude both in frequency and in size, occur mostly behind discontinuties (also distant from ridges) and in steep gullies and bowls. Poor visibility makes it more difficult to assess the risks. In addition, the danger of naturally triggered glide-snow avalanches persists below 2500 m. Isolated large-sized avalanches are possible in higher-altitude starting zones.

On top of the snowfall at the start of the week, an additional 10-30 cm of fresh snow is expected amid heavy wind impact from W/N. The base is moistened due to rainfall and higher temperatures below 2300-2500 m. Weak layer for a slab is a soft layer of faceted crystals beneath a near-surface crust in the old snow (rain-ice crust or wind crust or melt-freeze crust) but fractures inside the freshly generated drifts are also possible. Lower temperatures are helping the moist snowpack to regain its firmness. Reinforced gliding is being observed on steep grass-covered slopes.

Overnight there will be snowfall accompanied by strong-to-stormy W/NW winds, the snowfall level dropping from 1700 down to 1000 m. At 1500 m: +2 degrees; at 2000 m: -1 degree. On Thursday the peaks will be shrouded in clouds, reduced visibility, frequent snowfall (often heavy), but also interims. At 1500 m: -1 degree; at 2000 m: -2 degrees. The W/NW winds will be blowing at 90 km/hr in the Tauern.

On Friday, the next warm front will pass through bringing heavy precipitation. Wet snow problem at low and intermediate altitudes, a treacherous slab situation at high altitudes.