Lower Tauern South

Superficial moist loose-snow avalanches in extremely steep terrain

Superficial moist loose-snow avalanches in extremely steep terrain

LOW avalanche danger all day long Main danger: superficial loose-snow avalanches (mostly small) on extremely steep slopes. But the risk of being swept along and falling outweight that of being buried in snow. At high altitudes, there are small snowdrift patches near ridges in NE aspects and in gullies. Isolated glide-snow avalanches (small-to-medium) are possible.

The snowfall from Tues/Wed has settled in the radiation and warmth. On north-facing slopes there is still loose snow. The reserves of cold are nearly used up, expected light precipitation will burden the snowpack only little. The old snowpack is generally compact, in isolated cases with a brownish layer of Sahara dust at high and high alpine altitudes which constitutes a weak layer, but currently not triggerable or, to be exact, a triggered avalanche cannot fracture down deeper.

Skies Thursday night will be overcast, in the Lungau and on Main Tauern Ridge minor rainfall, snowfall above 1900 m. On Friday, lots of cloud, the high peaks could disappear in fog especially in the Tauern. From the south, light rainfall/snowfall will set in, snowfall level at 1800-2200 m. At 2000 m: 1-4 degrees. Moderate S/E winds. On Saturday in the Lungau and on Tauern Main Ridge overcast from the start. Further north, visibility is better. Southerly foehn will create sunny phases. In the Tauern region the foehn will be intense (40-60 km/hr in afternoon) but elsewhere no disturbance. At 2000 m: 1-4 degrees.

On the weekend, the wet-snow problem will dominate. In the Northern Alps still some reserves of cold on Saturday morning. In the Tauern at high alpine altitudes, fresh snowdrifts will be formed on north-facing slopes and in gullies.