Lower Tauern South

Fresh drifts prone to triggering in many places

Fresh drifts prone to triggering in many places

Avalanche danger above 2000 m is considerable, below that altitude danger is moderate. Main problem: snowdrifts. Above 2000 m the fresh snowdrifts esp. on N/S facing slopes are prone to triggering. Avalanches in many places can be triggered by 1 person and reach medium size. Danger zones increase with ascending altitude, often unrecognizable due to poor visibility. Above 2500 m, weak layers in the old snowpack can be triggered. Danger zones esp. on shady very steep slopes. Transitions from shallow to deeper snow are unfavourable. Releases usually require large additional loading but can fracture down to deeper layers and then grow to large size. Below 2200 m the gliding snow activity will persist. Danger zones occur in all aspects. Glide-snow avalanches can release on steep grassy slopes and smooth rocky ground at any time of day and reach medium size. Avoid zones below glide cracks.

Through the intensifying winds, the fresh snow can be transported. Above 2000 m, a melt-freeze crust will form. Soft layers below it will become weak layers. In high alpine region above 2500 m the snowpack base still consists of crdusts with soft embedded layers. Since the snowpack is thoroughly wet at low/intermediate altitudes the entire snowpack can glide over smooth ground if the gradient is steep enough.

Friday will bring some heavy cloud cover with snowfall, tapering off later on. All in all, from Thursday evening until Friday evening up to 15 cm of fresh snow is anticipated. Visibility initially poor, improving as of midday. Clouds could disperse. Winds below the treeline will be light to moderate from W/NW, above the treeline brisker, esp. in ridgeline terrain. Temperatures will drop slightly. At 2000 m: -9 or -8 degrees, at 3000 m: -12 degrees.

No significant change is expected.