Lower Tauern South

Fresh snow blankets foehn-induced drifts

Fresh snow blankets foehn-induced drifts

A serious snowdrift situation, CONSIDERABLE danger above the timberline, MODERATE danger below that altitude. Wind impact and unfavourable layering of the old snow have created numerous avalanche prone locations, their frequency and distribution increasing with ascending altitude. Triggering a medium-to-large slab avalanche is possible even by minimum additional loading, i.e. the weight of one single person. At intermediate and low altitudes on steep grassy slopes, naturally triggered glide-snow avalanches are possible.Caution and restraint urged in all aspects. Fresh snow covers the effects of the foehn, makes assessment more difficult.

On Wednesday, rising temperatures (due to southerly foehn), then dropping again, led to a superficial consolidating of the snowpack layers. Exposed zones are windblown, drifts found mainly distant from ridgelines in gullies, bowls and behind steep protruberances, trigger-sensitive on the loosely-packed base. On Thursday, amid heavy wind impact (W/NW) 10-20 cm of cold fresh snow is expected by afternoon. Above 2200 m, particularly on north-facing slopes beneath the melt-freeze crust from mid-November there are thin, soft layers (old-snow problem) which can be triggered by large additional loading, i.e. if there is a superficial triggering.

On Thursday, visibility in the mountains will frequently be limited by heavy cloud and snowfall. During the day, weather conditions will improve, snowfall slacken off in the afternoon. Brisk to strong W/NW winds will be blowing. Temperature at 2000 m: -9 degrees; at 3000 m, -15 degrees. On Friday, good visibility, frequent sunshine. In the afternoon, high altitude cloud cover will move in from the west, create diffuse light conditions. Foehn-induced southerly winds will arise, reach 50-70 km/hr at high altitude. Temperature at 2000 m: -8 degrees; at 3000 m: -13 degrees.

No significant change. Freshly generated snowdrifts at high altitudes in all aspects on Friday demand experience in avalanche assessment on-site.