Fischbach Alps East, Wechsel

Caution towards older snowdrifts thinly blanketed by fresher snow. Avoid zones below glide cracks.

Caution towards older snowdrifts thinly blanketed by fresher snow. Avoid zones below glide cracks.

Above the treeline moderate avalanche danger due to older snowdrift accumulations. Danger zones primarily on N/E facing slopes, especially behind protruberances and at entries into gullies and bowls slab avalanches can be triggered from the snowdrifts even by low additional loading in isolated cases.

Storm-strength winds on the southern Tauern flanks and in the rimline ranges have windblown much terrain completely bare of snow. The minor snowfall from Wednesday is bonding well with the old snow from last weekend, but older snowdrifts (which have not yet settled, due to low temperatures, esp. on shady slopes) are covered. Weak layers are making the snow prone to triggering. The base at ground level is often moist, on steep grassy slopes the snowpack is still gliding.

Following a night of clear skies on Thursday with low temperatures and high fog in the valleys, a warm front will bring mild air masses our way on Friday. A few hours of sunshine, then heavy cloud cover from the west and skies will remain overcast for the rest of the day. Midday temperatures at 2000 m will reach +1 degree; at 1500 m, +4 degrees. Light to moderate SE, then W winds will be blowing. Also on the weekend, Atlantic perturbances will bring relatively mild air masses our way. In the valleys, cold air masses will produce high fog, clouds on the northern flank of the Alps above 1000 m will produce a bit of minor snowfall.

Temporarily higher temperatures will calm the snowdrift problem, but increase the wet-snow problem.