Lower Tauern South

High danger due to fresh snow and new drifts

The situation for winter sports enthusiasts remains tense, particularly at high altitudes: that means danger level 4 (HIGH). The culmination of naturally triggered avalanche activity is probably on Thursday.

High danger due to fresh snow and new drifts

The danger of avalanches is HIGH - Danger Level 4. Avalanches can be triggered by minimum additional loading at all altitudes. In numerous steep zones, triggering a medium-to-large sized slab is downright probable. This applies to gullies and steep wind-loaded slopes in all aspects, particularly at forest rims. In extremely steep terrain, numerous avalanches will trigger naturally. Releases at high altitudes can develop snow clouds and grow to large size, in the zones of the Northern Alps and Tauern where snowfall has been heaviest, also very large size and even endanger exposed transportation routes.

Until Tuesday afternoon there was heavy snowfall, in the mountains accompanied by stormy W/N winds, bringing 30-70 cm of new snow widespread. On Wednesday there will be another 30-50 cm added to it. The NW storm winds will transport the snow intensively and far-reachingly, deposit large drifts in gullies and bowls and, particularly, at forest rims and in sparsely wooded zones. The snowdrift accumulations lie atop a cold snow base and are prone to triggering. Fracture points exist inside the new snow and drifts themselves. However, when avalanches release they can also fracture to deeper-down layers in the upper part of the snowpack.

On Tuesday night and during the day on Wednesday, snowfall from thick clouds, persistent and heavy. Amid stormy NW winds, temperatures will rise slightly. At 2000 m: -8 degrees; at 3000 m: -14 degrees. On Thursday, the snowfall will taper off during the morning. In the afternoon, high altitude cloud, often good visibility. Winds will be moderate, brisker at high