Lower Tauern South

Wet-snow/glide-snow avalanches triggering naturally

On Wednesday very sunny, hardly any wind, and warm. Naturally triggered loose-snow avalanches from the fresh fallen snow in sun-drenched steep terrain, small trigger-prone snowdrift accumulations in ridgeline terrain above 2000 m. Gliding snow activity will remain heightened.

Wet-snow/glide-snow avalanches triggering naturally

Avalanche danger above 1400 m is moderate. Small wet loose-snow avalanches and isolated glide-snow avalanches can trigger from sun-drenched steep and rocky terrain. Apart from that, at high/high-alpine altitudes, snowdrifts can trigger as small-to-medium slab avalanches, both near to and distant from ridgelinees, behind discontinuities and in gullies. Most danger zones occurred on NW/N/E facing steep slopes. Above 2400 m on shady slopes there are still weak layers which can be triggered by large additional loading, releases occasionally grow to large size.

Atop a moistened old snowpack surface up to 2000-2300 m, fresh snowfall is expected amid modearte wind impact from the northwest: 10-20 cm, more in the Hohe Tauern. At intermediate altitudes, rainfall. At high-alpine altitudes the base consists of settled fresh snow, dry on shady slopes. At high altitudes the W/NW winds have generated fresh snowdrifts. Beneath the latest fresh snowfall are melt-freeze crusts with which the fresh snow bonds poorly. Weak layer for slab avalanches: above 2400 m, blanketed fresh snow and faceted crystals near crusts, and graupel. Below 2000 m the snowpack has repeatedly become thoroughly moist. Gliding snow activity has increased slightly.

Nocturnal skies will be overcast with rainfall and snow showers, it will remain dry only in the Nockberge. Snowfall level dropping from 1700 m in the evening down to 1400 m in early morning. Expected snow: 5-15 cm, in high-alpine regions of Hohe Tauern up to 20-30 cm possible. Moderate NW winds blowing on the Main Alpine Ridge. On Tuesday visibility will improve significantly, fog and brief showers will reduce it only somewhat in the morning, snowfall level 1500 m. As of midday, intermittent sunshine. At 2000 m: -3 to +3 degrees; at 3000 m: -7 degrees. The NW winds will be moderate.