Türnitzer Alpen

New fallen snow leads to an increase in avalanche danger!

New fallen snow leads to an increase in avalanche danger!

The avalanche danger is assessed as moderate (level 2). During the night to Friday, fresh, unstable wind slabs will form in the north, west and south-east sectors, some of which will be covered by soft new fallen snow. The avalanche prone locations are therefore difficult to recognise and can also occur in unusual aspects. They are generally located on slopes that have been blown in, in terrain adjacent to ridgelines and at the entrances to gullies and bowls. Small, and occasionally medium-sized, slab avalanches can be triggered by a single person. Spontaneous slab avalanches are also possible.

Between Thursday evening and Friday lunchtime, 20 to 30 cm of new fallen snow is expected, with up to 50 cm possible in the Wechsel area. Some of the new fallen snow will be transported by wind from various directions. The fresh wind slabs may contain weak layers. At low altitudes, the snow will often fall on loose ground, at higher altitudes on older snowdrift accumulations or a crusted can form old snowpack. On steep meadow slopes, the snow can begin to glide snow.

During the night to Friday, there will be widespread heavy snowfall with high intensities in places. The intensity will be higher in the east than in the west and there will be considerably more snowfall here. In the Bucklige Welt and the Wechsel, 30 to 50 cm of new fallen snow is expected, while 20 to 35 cm will fall in the Türnitz and Gutenstein Alps. The snowfall level will be in the valleys. It will snow lightly to moderately until midday. The afternoon will be mostly free of precipitation. The temperature at an altitude of 1500 metres will be between -6 and -4 degrees. Strong to stormy winds with gusts between 40 and 70 km/h from the south to north-east.

There will be no precipitation during the night until Saturday. On Saturday, the current will turn to the west and strong to stormy winds will develop. A warm front is expected to bring precipitation again on Sunday night. However, the snowfall level will rise significantly. The avalanche danger remains moderate (level 2).