Wölz Tauern South

Persistent weak layer problem in northern and eastern sectors, covered by fresh wind slab!

Persistent weak layer problem in northern and eastern sectors, covered by fresh wind slab!

The avalanche risk is assessed as moderate above the tree line and low below. There is still a persistent weak layer problem in the northern and eastern exposures. In addition, fresh pillows of wind drifted snow can be triggered as small slab avalanches by low additional loads. Medium-sized slab avalanches are also possible when breaking through the weak old snowpack. The danger areas are mainly located in the transition from little to more snow as well as behind terrain edges and in the entrance area of gullies and bowls. The avalanche prone locations are often difficult to recognise.

Up to 15 centimetres of new fallen snow was deposited on a soft snow surface in places due to strong winds, and on surface hoar in sheltered locations. As a result, there is a bound layer of fresh wind slab and new fallen snow. This covers a very variable and mostly hard old snowpack. There is significantly more snow in shady gullies and bowls than on sunny slopes. In the northern and eastern exposures, the snowpack continues to be weakened by crusts and layers with faceted crystals and floating snow, and the persistent weak layer problem remains. There is still significantly less snow than average.

The last rain and snowfall will subside on Thursday evening and the cloud cover will soften, especially in the northern Alps. Low residual clouds will often remain south of the main Alpine ridge. After residual clouds and fog disperse, Friday will temporarily bring quite sunny mountain weather, but clouds will return from the south-west in high and medium-high layers during the afternoon. However, it will remain dry until the evening. The wind will blow moderately to strongly from a south-westerly to north-westerly direction. Temperatures at 2000 metres will be between -2 and +2 degrees, at 1500 metres between -1 and +4 degrees.

On Friday, there will be a brief intermittent high with some sunny spells. In the afternoon, it will start to get cloudy again from the west. No change in the avalanche danger is expected.