Savinja Alps and Carinthia

New and blown snow

New and blown snow

New fallen snow and blowing snow are the main dangers. Snowpack stability is reduced, especially on slopes and in ravines, where the snow thickness is greater due to snow accumulations.

In addition to new fallen snow, weak layers in the snowpack deeper in the snowpack can be a local problem. These weak layers are more common in the axis above the forest. In particular, a large avalanche can be triggered if the load exceeds the load-bearing capacity of these layers.

15-30 cm of dry and light snow fell in the mountains. A strong northerly wind blew in with the snow, blowing the snow down to the old base in many places. The new fallen snow is only slowly bonding with the old base. Ridges and peaks are blown down to the old base, in some places there is little old base. During the precipitation more than a week ago, there was some local fall of graupel, which is a potentially dangerous Weak layer. Locally, the layers of Graupel are 5-10 cm thick, possibly more.

In old snow cover, the snow layers are mostly well connected. Deep below the surface, several weak layers of faceted snow crystals and sheared grains occur, which are more frequent on axial slopes.

It will be variably cloudy, with more sunshine in the west. Strong northerly winds. Temperatures will be around 0 °C at 1500 m and -8 °C at 2500 m.

The danger of avalanches will remain similar. On Thursday, the weather will be similar, with winds weakening. Friday will see more sunshine.