2014-12-05T07:30:00+01:00 Patrick Nairz 2014-12-05+01:00 https://lawine.tirol.gv.at/data/fotos/wenigschnee_1.jpg Initially little change in the avalanche situation is expected, amidst light snowfall. On Monday, 08.12.2014, winds will intensify, thus giving rise to fresh snowdrift accumulations. The next bulletin will be published whenever the situation changes significantly, in a week at latest. Current measurement data can be found at our blog at: https@||lawine.tirol.gv.at Beware small snowdrift near ridgelines along Main Alpine Ridge and in East Tirol DP8 DP6 Alpine Weather Forecast (ZAMG-Weather Service Innsbruck) General weather on 05.12.2014: A low pressure front hovers over the western Mediterranean, the lowermost layers of which are scooping moist air masses our way. A perturbance is also approaching from the west. Mountain weather on 05.12.2014: quite sunny in the mountains, although high altitude cloudbanks are moving in from the southeast and creating diffuse light. In the Southern Alps, high fogbanks extend to a ceiling at just under 2000 m. Temperature at 2000 m: +1 degree; at 3000 m: -5 degrees. Generally light winds, in foehn-exposed regions the southerly winds are slackening off. Snow Layering Snow distribution in Tirol is highly varied. In northern regions there is comparatively little snow. Towards the Main Alpine Ridge the snow depths increase sharply, especially above 2000 m. On glaciers the snow is up to 2 meters deep. In East Tirol it recently snowed down to the valley floor, increasing snow depths noticeably above 2400 m. For the most part the snowpack is well consolidated. However, since 25.11 potential weak layers have begun to form. Highest caution is merited by the surface hoar which has now been snowed over in the regions along the Main Alpine Ridge above 3000 m, lower down in East Tirol, in shady ridgeline terrain (Nigg effect). In North Tirol west of Wipp Valley there is a thin ice layer around which faceted crystals have formed, particularly above 2300 m on W-NW to N to E-NE facing slopes. However there is still too little snow for significant tensions to build. Freshly drifted snow at high altitudes can break through at the borderline with the loosely packed powder beneath it. Avalanche Danger All in all, quite favourable conditions prevail. Potential avalanche risk is to be found only in the regions along the Main Alpine Ridge and in East Tirol, particularly above approximately 2500 m. Very steep, shady ridgeline terrain needs to be assessed with care; small-sized snowdrift masses recently formed which can be triggered even by minimum additional loading. In the regions along the Main Alpine Ridge the likelihood of triggering above about 3000 m may be heightened due to surface hoar in steep, shady terrain. In East Tirol this is the case also at lower altitudes. With experience in the evaluation of avalanche risks, the danger zones, e.g. freshly drifted steep slopes, can be easily recognized, visibility permitting.