Wölz Tauern South

Atypical situation. Wind-loaded west-facing slopes.

Atypical situation. Wind-loaded west-facing slopes.

Avalanche danger above the treeline is considerable. Danger zones lie near to and distant from ridgelines, behind abrupt discontinuities in the terrain. Glide cracks should be seen as signals of potential danger. Gullies have been wind-loaded in all aspects. Special caution urged on west-facing slopes where there are fresh snowdrifts. A slab release is possible even with minimum additional loading. Loose-snow and slab avalanches can be naturally triggered even as the snow falls. Cornices are instable. The drifts should not be underestimated!

In Niedere Tauern there was less snowfall than in the southern regions. Focus: Gaaler Alps. Winds have had great impact. Bonded snow lies atop a soft layer and is prone to triggering. Inside the old snowpack there are weak layers of faceted crystals. At intermediate altitudes the fresh fallen snow is poorly bonded with the old snowpack.

A low over Italy is scooping moist air masses into Styria. Weather conditions are inhospitable. During the night, a bit of snowfall, snowfall level will fluctuate between 500 and 900 m. On Tuesday widespread snowfall on the southern flank of the Alps. In the northern regions snowfall will soon taper off, but fog and clouds will persist until sundown. Moderate to brisk NE winds (30-50 km/hr). At 2000 m, -3 degrees. Up to 10-20 cm of fresh snow is expected, focus in the southern Niedere Tauern. On Wednesday, sunny weather will reign.

Considerable avalanche danger will persist.