Lower Tauern South

Trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations in some places

Trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations in some places

Avalanche danger above 2200 m is MODERATE, fresh snowdrift accumulations on east-facing slopes behind abrupt discontinuities in the terrain, in gullies and bowls - also distant from ridgelines - are the main danger. Particularly in steep ridgeline terrain they can trigger and grow to medium-sized avalanches. Danger zones increase in frequency with ascending altitude, often cannot be seen by the naked eye.

At high altitudes are snowdrift accumulations are shady, wind-protected east-facing slopes atop soft layers (faceted crystals, surface hoar) which are prone to triggering. Apart from this, bonding of fresh snow and drifts is good. Weak layers embedded inside the snowpack (Tauern, high alpine regions) are well blanketed, unlikely to trigger.

On Sunday, heavy cloud right from the start, the peaks often shrouded. Light to moderate precipitation in all massifs, in some places snowfall down to the valley floor, in the afternoon only above 800-1300m. Winds will be moderate to brisk from the west, strong at high altitudes. At 2000m: -8 to -2 degrees; at 3000 m: -10 degrees.

As temperatures rise, the danger of wet loose-snow avalanches rises with them.