Weisseck, Muhr Valley

Snowdrift problem in high-alpine terrain. Rising wet-snow problem as day progresses.

Good backcountry touring weather: on Wednesday, excellent visibility with lots of sunshine, a few cloudbanks. Winds light to moderate from the northwest, brisker in the Tauern (50 km/hr). At 2000 m: 4-5 degrees; at 3000 m: -3 degrees.

Avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly.

Snowdrift problem in high-alpine terrain. Rising wet-snow problem as day progresses.

Avalanche danger is moderate in the morning abovbe 2400 m, later rising to moderate at all altitudes. Above 2400 m snowdrifts can trigger by 1 person. Danger zones occur on NW/N/NE facing steep slopes, near ridges, behind discontinuities and in gullies and bowls, releases can reach medium size. Due to radiation and warmth, danger of naturally triggered loose-snow avalanches will increase as the day unfolds. In steep rocky terrain loose-snow releases can be medium sized. The softening snowpack is an indicator of danger. Glide-snow avalanches of medium size can release at any time of day or night. Above 2400 m on shady slopes weak layer in the old snowpack can be triggered by large additional loading, releases grow to large size.

The snowpack surface in early morning is melt-freeze encrusted, quickly softens during the day. Above 2200, 20 cm of fresh snow was registered, more in the Kalkalps and in the western Hohe Tauern. The snow is loose on shady slopes, fresh drifts lie atop a soft layer. Weak layer for slab avalanches: above 2400 m apart from blanketed frsh snow, esp. faceted crystals near crusts and graupel. Below 2000 m the snowpack has become thoroughly moist repeated times. Gliding snow activity has increased slightly.