Wölz Tauern South

New fallen snow and wind - avalanches can easily be triggered!

New fallen snow and wind - avalanches can easily be triggered!

The avalanche risk is considerable above the tree line (level 3). The new fallen snow and extensive snowdrift accumulations are prone to triggering, especially above the tree line. The danger spots extend into forest aisles and sparse high forest and can be triggered by individual winter sports enthusiasts as medium-sized avalanches. They are mainly located in gullies, bowls and behind terrain edges. Spontaneous slab avalanches and loose snow avalanches are possible from very steep slopes.

20 to 40 cm of new fallen snow will be transported by strong to stormy north-westerly winds during the day. Fresh snowdrift accumulations are deposited above the tree line on a partly still weak old snowpack. They will increase in volume and size during the daytime changes. Weak layers can be found in the bound layer or transition to the old snow, at higher altitudes in places still in the persistent weak layer (faceted crystals in the area of crusts) or occasionally in layers close to the ground in the form of floating snow. The persistent weak layer is also partially moist.

In the coming night, it will snow along the northern side of the Alps, sometimes persistently, with the focus gradually shifting to the region between Hochkar and Schneealpe. Tomorrow it will snow throughout the mountains, especially from the eastern Limestone Alps to the Wechsel region. Visibility will be severely restricted by wind, fog and snow. The temperature at an altitude of 2000 metres will be around -10 degrees. The temperature at an altitude of 1500 metres is around -7 degrees. Stormy winds with gusts of around 80 km/h from the north. The snowfall level is in the valleys. A further 30 cm of new fallen snow is possible between the Dachstein and the Wölzer Tauern.

The wind slab problem remains. Be careful when ski touring on Saturday. The danger of slipping snow lurks even on the first fine day after a precipitation event with wind!