Fischbach Alps East, Wechsel

Caution with some snowdrift masses (recognizable by signs of wind). AVOID zones below glide-cracks.

Caution with some snowdrift masses (recognizable by signs of wind). AVOID zones below glide-cracks.

Avalanche danger is low. At the forefront is the danger of glide-snow avalanches in zones where snowfall has been heaviest. Thus, avoid under all circumstances areas below glide-cracks. Due to lack of transportable snow there were few fresh snowdrift accumulations generated. Isolated snowdrift patches are distributed over small areas but can occur in all aspects. Large weak layers are currently unlikely. On high altitude shady slopes a persistent weak layer can still threaten, most recently in the form of an old layer of surface hoar or faceted crystals below melt-freeze crusts. In exposed zones, e.g. windblown gullies, it is hard and icy, thus the risk of being forced to take a fall.

The shift from higher to lower temperatures has stabilized the snowpack. The surfaces are encrusted or covered with compact powder Due to the lack of fresh snow and the hard old snowpack surface there were only few, shallow snowdrift accumulations generated, usually a soft layer atop the melt-freeze crust of the old snowpack.

An intermediate high on Thursday will being very favorable weather conditions. In the morning skies will be mostly cloudless, towards midday high altitude clouds will move in from the west, impede the sunshine somewhat. The initially strong westerly winds will ease, then shift to southwesterly, and foehn wind will arise on the northern flank of the Alps. In Tauern and Northern Alps temperatures will be mild. At 2000m: +2 degrees; at 1500m: +5 degrees at midday. On the southern flank of the Alps the temperatures will lie about 2 degrees lower. On Thursday night a cold front will strike the Eastern Alps but bring little precipitation. But temperatures in the Styrian Alps will drop noticeably. On the northern flank of the Alps, stormy NW winds will be blowing.

No significant change is expected.