Lower Tauern North

Caution: trigger-sensitive snowdrifts

Caution: trigger-sensitive snowdrifts

Near the timberline and above: CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger, LOW below that altitude. Fresh snowdrift accumulations can be triggered as small-to-medium avalanches even by minimum additional loading on very steep slopes. Danger zones occur near to and distant from ridgelines. Signs of wind and snowdrifts are hard to spot amid poor visibility. A prudent route selection is essential. Orient your tracking along crests and ridges. AVOID descents on steep slopes above terrain-traps, e.g. a small superficial, released snowdrift masses.

By Tuesday midday, 10-20 cm of fresh snow, more from place to place, was registered. The stormy NW winds transported fresh snow and loose old snow far-reachingly, the drifts now lie deposited in wind-protected terrain, e.g. gullies and bowls. The surface is highly irregular. Also on Wednesday, strong-to-stormy winds will be blowing and a few cm of fresh snow will fall. Additional snowdrift accumulations will be generated, deposited often atop an unfavourable snowpack surface. In some wind-protected zones there is also light, fluffy snow and surface hoar which have been blanketed, and which bond poorly with the snowdrifts. At mid-level inside the snowpack it is quite compact and well consolidated.

The peaks will mostly be shrouded in clouds, intermittent snow showers will pass through. Further south, clouds will disperse somewhat, visibility will be flat. Strong-to-stormy W/NW winds will be blowing. At 2000 m: -7 degrees; at 3000 m: -13 degrees.

On Thursday, 40-60 cm of fresh snow is forecast, more from place to place. Strong-to-stormy winds will accompany the precipitation. The likelihood of triggering will increase, medium-to-large naturally triggered avalanches are possible. Avalanche danger will climb to Danger Level 4 (HIGH).