Wölz Tauern South

Moderate avalanche danger in high altitudes - caution: fresh snowdrift!

The avalanche danger is moderate above 1.600 m. Danger spots are predominantly in northwest to eastern expositions. There fresh snowdrift accumulations are formed on a weakened old snow cover. Especially in entry and peripheral areas to extrem steep gullies and bowls slave avalanches can be triggered which can reach medium sizes.

The snowcover is in general unusually thin considering the season. On sunny slopes the snow cover is already moist partially wet down to the ground even in high altitudes. Fresh new snow (maximum 30 cm) is drifted with the stormy winds to north and eastern expositions and is accumulating there and prone to triggering. The bonding to the old snow layer decreases with altitude. The old snow base is built by a succession of soft layers built of faceted snow crystals and melt-freeze crusts and weakened especially in shady slopes in medium and high altitudes.

On Tuesday it will snow and rain in the west of upper Styria. The snow line is on 1.500 m in the beginning but descending to 900 m to 1.300 m during the afternoon. Stormy winds on the summit ms coming from the south which eases out in the afternoon. Temperatures at 1.500 m are cooling down from +3 to -1 degrees during the course of the day.

Wednesday will be sunny but the summits will be foggy. Temperatures in 2.000 m are around-4 degrees. No significant changes of the avalanche danger is expected.