Lower Tauern South

Instable snowdrift accumulations will quickly generate due to strong winds

Instable snowdrift accumulations will quickly generate due to strong winds

Caution: the situation is swiftly changing during the daytime Increasing snowdrift problem above the timberline. To start with, MODERATE avalanche danger, as of midday generally CONSIDERABLE. With the arising westerly winds, wide-ranging danger zones will be generated. This applies to steep terrain above the treeline, in gullies, steep bowls and steep N/E/SW facing slopes. Triggering an avalanche is possible even through the impulse of one single person. Avalanches can grow to dangerously large size. Also naturally triggered slab avalanches and loose-snow avalanches can be triggered in extremely steep terrain by winds.

As winds arise, the cards are being reshuffled. As of midday, fresh snowdrift accumulations are being generated which will be deposited on the cold, loose powder and be easily triggered. In wind-impacted zones the snow transport will be far reaching in the afternoon. Prior to the wind impact there was 20-40 cm of snowfall, as much as 50 cm on the Main Tauern Ridge of cold and loosely packed powder deposited on an old, melt-freeze encrusted snowpack surface. The soft layer just beneath the crust (faceted crystals from December) is not easily triggered.

On Saturday, visibility often impaired by clouds and light snow showers (a few centimetres of fresh snow). In the afternoon, clouds will disperse, sunshine is anticipated. Caution: strong westerly winds will arise. For hours in the afternoon, strong-to-stormy winds (40-60 km/hr) will be blowing. Cold! At 2000 m: -10 degrees, at 3000 m -16 degrees. On Sunday, the peaks will mostly be shrouded in cloud, with repeated bouts of snowfall expected (5-10 cm). Winds will often be brisk, south of the Tauern blowing at storm strength, from the northwest. At 2000 m: -10, at 3000 m -14 degrees.

The main problem remains: fresh snowdrift masses above the treeline.