Lower Tauern Central

Moderate wet-snow problem - Heed foehn-induced drifts in high alpine regions

Moderate wet-snow problem - Heed foehn-induced drifts in high alpine regions

Avalanche danger due to warmth and foehn-induced drifts from the weekend: MODERATE. Wet-snow problem below 2200m: main problem is warmth and diffuse solar radiation. Thus, in steep terrain, moist-snow slides (natural or skier-caused) are possible. Also in extremely steep, rocky terrain, medium-sized wet-snow avalanches can trigger. Also glide-snow avalanches are becoming more active. Isolated releases are possible on extremely steep grass-covered slopes, can become medium sized, in isolated cases large sized. Persistent weak layer above 2200 m: where the foehn winds was blowing on the weekend (signs are easily recognizable) on shady leeward slopes there are snowdrift accumulations which can be triggered by large additional loading above 2000 m on W/N/E facing slopes. Potential avalanches are generally small sized, the risk of being swept along and falling is thereby greater, but in isolated cases there could be enough snow released to get buried in.

The first warm day after a night of overcast skies. The surfaces are becoming soften and moister, and the moisture seeps deeper into the snowpack, particularly on sunny slopes up to 2500m, on shady slopes up to 2000 m The weekend foehn winds have left behind varyingly large snowdrifts on leeward slopes in north-facing terrain and in bowls. These are often hard, but often triggerable because the layers were deposited atop surface hoar and faceted crystals. Size and depth are not great. The triggerable layers are generally 5-15 cm thick. Apart from wind impact, there is also faceted powder on shady slopes at high altitudes. Inside the old snowpack there are soft, faceted layers (persistent weak layer). These are currently unlikely to trigger.

Cloudbanks above summit level will generate diffuse light on Tuesday. Some intermittent rainfall is anticipated during the night. Light southerly winds (40-60 km/hr). Warmer and moister than in recent days. At 2000 m: 6 degrees; at 3000 m: -3 degrees. On Wednesday, heavy cloud cover and slackening precipitation will impede visibility to start with. The higher peaks will get a snow dusting (5 cm above 2000m). During the course of the day, the clouds will disperse, sunshine will follow in the afternoon. The NW winds will be blowing at 40-60 km/hr. Temperature at 2000 m: 0 degrees; at 3000 m: -6 degrees.

Wet-snow problem will persist. Snowdrift problem will recede.