Weisseck, Muhr Valley

Combined old and wind slab problem

Combined old and wind slab problem

The avalanche risk is moderate from the sparse high forest upwards. In some places, avalanches can be triggered by even a small additional load in the persistent weak layer and can reach medium size. Be careful at the transition from little to lots of snow.

Even partially covered and difficult to recognise snowdrift accumulations can be disturbed by individuals in some places. Superficial avalanches remain small, but tear through to the upper part of the persistent weak layer relatively easily and then become medium sized. All aspects and both adjacent to ridgelines and steep terrain far from ridges are affected. Caution is also required on and below cornices.

On isolated typical slopes, sliding snow activity may set in, and loose snow activity may also set in during longer windows of sunshine.

At higher, wind-calm locations, there is an average of half a metre of new and drift snow from the last week, while exposed locations are heavily blown and snowdrift accumulations are correspondingly thick. The snow came to rest on a thin melt-freeze crust from the weekend, in the vicinity of which faceted crystals are forming. At high altitudes on the shady slopes, angular forms and deep rime (also in combination with crusts) can be found even deeper in the old snowpack. Fractures are most likely to occur within the no longer quite fresh snowdrift accumulations, increasingly also on the uppermost crust, and only occasionally in the deep rime.

During the night, it will snow frequently from dense clouds in the Northern Alps and Tauern region with a snowfall level of around 900 metres. In total, around 3 to 10 cm of new fallen snow will accumulate. On Friday, the clouds will soften and often let the sun shine. During the day, cumulus clouds will form again, restricting visibility in places. The clouds will clear again later in the afternoon. A moderately strong to brisk north-westerly wind will blow, reaching speeds of around 50 km/h in the open high areas of the Tauern. At 2000 metres the temperature will be -6 to -3 degrees, at 3000 metres -11 to -7 degrees.

On Saturday, changeable weather and similar avalanche risk.