Lower Tauern South

Fresh snowdrift accumulations trigger-prone

Fresh snowdrift accumulations trigger-prone

Avalanche danger above the treeline is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. Freshly generated snowdrift accumulations can be triggered by 1 person in some places, releases often medium-sized, esp. on western Main Alpine Ridge. Danger zones increase with ascending altitude, occur near steep ridgelines and in gullies and bowls in all aspects. Snowdrifts are not easy to recognize due to diffuse light, and can be covered. There is still latent danger of glide-snow avalanches, most releases medium-sized, occasionally larger.

Due to southerly foehn wind on the weekend and today’s sterong NW winds, fresh snowdrift accumulations will be generated in all aspects, deposited atop a soft surface above 2000 m. The snowpack is highly irregular due to wind impact. Above 2300 m both blanketed surface hoar and faceted crystals near crusts can serve as weak layers, esp. on W/N/E facing slopes. At intermediate altitudes the snowpack has repeatedly been made thoroughly moist and compact.

Frequent snowfall from heavy clouds. On high-altitude Tauern slopes, often stormy NW winds. By early morning there will be 5 cm of fresh snow, then an additional 5-15 cm during the daytime, transported by winds and deposited highly irregularly. Snowfall level at 1000-1200 m, above 1400 m the snow will persist on the ground. In exposed Tauern zones, NW winds will reach speeds of 80 km/hr. At 2000 m: -3 degrees; at 3000 m: -10 degrees.

Avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly.