Lower Tauern South

Gliding snow activity increasing

Gliding snow activity increasing

Avalanche danger is MODERATE. Due to rising temperatures and lots of solar radiation, glide-snow avalanches continue to be the main danger: in all aspects at any time of day or night, medium-sized when triggering from terrain which has not yet discharged, plummeting down to greenlands, esp. in starting zones in NW/N/E facing terrain. Avoid zones below glide-cracks. As the day progresses, likelihood of small loose-snow slides will increase on sunny slopes and in rough and rocky terrain in all aspects, esp. on very steep W/N/E facing slopes above 2200m.

The bit of fresh snow from Wednesday has bonded and consolidated, became moistened on Thursday in all aspects. Due to nocturnal outgoing radiation, a thin melt-freeze crust forms, softening quickly the next day. Beneath it the snowpack öon W/N/E facing slopes is often isotherm and moistened down to the ground. On sunny slopes the fresh snow has already melted, the slopes are becoming bare again. In steep grass-covered terrain which has not yet discharged, glide-snow avalanches can release and plummet down to bare slopes.

Scattered thin cirrus clouds during the night, light to moderate NW winds. On Saturday, sunshine, thin cirrus clouds, light-to-moderate W/NW winds. At 2000 m: 7-12 degrees; at 3000 m: 3 degrees. Also on Sunday, following a night of scattered clouds, initially sunny, heavier clouds moving in later with intensifying winds.

Avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly. Daytime cycle of avalanche activity. Beware gliding snow.