Wölz Tauern South

Older and fresh snowdrifts, varying winds, danger hones increasing with nearness to Main Tauern Ridge

Older and fresh snowdrifts, varying winds, danger hones increasing with nearness to Main Tauern Ridge

The focus of avalanche danger lies in the regions where fresh snow will be heaviest in northern Upper Styria. But the fresh drifts on the southern flank of the Alps should not be neglected which generated last week amid strong NW winds as of Tuesday and SW winds on Thursday. Also on Friday, stormy NW winds can generate further snowdrift accumulations, particularly in E/S aspects. Danger above the treeline is moderate, though even minimum additional loading is sufficient to trigger the shallow snowdrift patches. Transitions from deep to shallow snow require special caution.

Already last weekend the snowdrifts were being deposited onto hardened, sometimes surface-hoar encrusted surfaces. Since Tuesdsay the NW winds have intensified and on Friday will intensify further. The old snowpack beneath the drifts was able to settle, but on steep high-altitude shady slopes the snowpack is riddled with faceted corn snow forms and melt-freeze crusts, thus is weakened; and in lee terrain is covered with surface hoar. Elsewhere the snowpack is wind-pressed or else hard and icy.

This evening a cold front will reach Styria. In Northern Alps from Dachstein to Hochschwab, snowfall amid low lying clouds overnight and on Friday all day long, tapering off in the afternoon. Up to 40 cm of fresh snow can be expected in the mountains. Somewhat less in secondary northern barrier cloud zones of Niedere Tauern and further snow (only short snow showers), since the northerly foehn wind will disperse the clouds somewhat. Winds from northwest will reach gale strength in high alpine regions. Temperatures will drop measurably. At midday at 2000 m: -10 degrees; at 1500 m: -6 degrees.

Also on Saturday on the northern flank of the Alps, cloud and stormy winds. A warm front will bring minor precipitation, the snowfall level will ascend to above 1000 m. The south will have better conditions, being on the lee side of the weather front. The avalanche situation is not expected to change significantly.