Hochschwab Mountains

Fresh snowfall plus wind = wide ranging snowdrift accumulations down to the treeline

Fresh snowfall plus wind = wide ranging snowdrift accumulations down to the treeline

Avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE above the treeline, MODERATE below that altitude. Gale-strength NW winds will generate snowdrifts in all aspects, these will grow in the afternoon hours as snowfall sets in. The snowdrifts are danger zones, can often be triggered even by minimum additional loading and unleash a slab. Most critical are transitions from shallow to deep snow and entry points into gullies and bowls. Exposed terrain is windblown.

On Tuesday night and on Wednesday, 5-15 cm of fresh snow is expected. Stormy NW winds are generating small snowdrift accumulations, often poorly bonded with the snowbase beneath them. In addition, more deeply embedded inside the snowpack are weak layers of faceted crystals bordering on melt-freeze crusts, weakening the entire snowpack thereby. They occur only in a few places, are generally triggerable by large additional loading.

Along the northern flank of the Alps, 5-15 cm of fresh snow amid varyingly strong wind impact (snowfall level 600-800m). Stormy NW winds will transport intensively. At 2000 m: -9 degrees. Wednesday evening the snowfall will intensify in the northern barrier cloud regions. On Wednesday night and on Thursday, snowfall above 600-800m - persistent and intensive - amid strong to stormy NW winds.

Fresh snow and storm-strength winds are causing avalanche danger levels to rise.