Lower Tauern Central

Wind slabs and persistent weak layers are still prone to triggering

Wind slabs and persistent weak layers are still prone to triggering

The avalanche risk is moderate above the tree line and low below. Medium-sized slab avalanches can be triggered by individuals in some places, especially from west to north to east, but also in a few places in the southern sector. Fractures in the fresh wind slab can tear through the persistent weak layer and tend to propagate. Avalanche prone locations are barely recognisable and require a defensive choice of route. Take particular care near transitions from a little to a lot of snow and in the blown-in entrance areas to steep gullies.

New and wind slab snow from the past few days has been partially deposited on surface hoar and a soft snow surface. In general, areas with little snow alternate with considerable snowdrift accumulations, some of which are as hard as a board and some of which are already built up. Breaks usually occur close to the crust, which forms the transition to the completely angular old snowpack. Under this crust, the old snowpack consists of deep rime and angular forms, which are interspersed with further crusts in areas with more snow. The overall snow depth is well below average.

During the night it rains and snows with a snowfall level between around 1000 and 1200 metres. In the summit regions, 5 - 10 cm of new fallen snow will accumulate. The wind will be brisk at times, peaking at around 50 km/h, but will ease considerably towards the morning and then only blow weakly. Saturday will be changeable with mostly dense clouds and little sunshine. From the Tennengebirge southwards, it will become softer and softer during the daytime changes and it will remain mainly dry. The wind will blow weakly from different directions at all altitudes. Temperatures at 2000 metres will be around -3 degrees, at 3000 metres around -9 degrees.

The wind slab problem is slowly improving, but the persistent weak layer problem remains.