Hochschwab Mountains

Main danger: glide-snow avalanches. Beware snowdrift patches on shady slopes.

Nighttime skies will be partly clear, snow showers on the northern flank of the Alps, then mild for a brief interim (snowfall level 1300 m). On the southern flank of the Alps, more pleasant conditions, some sunshine in the morning. In the evening winds will intensify, snowfall expected on the northern flank of the Alps. Avalanche danger will increase somewhat.

On Thursday, winds and snow showers on the northern flank of the Alps, temporarily milder (snowfall level at 1300 m). On the southern flank of the Alps, more pleasant conditions, some sunshine. In the evening, wind and snowfall on the northern flank of the Alps. Avalanche danger will increase somewhat. Heavy snowfall expected on the weekend, with storm winds: marked rise in avalanche danger.

Main danger: glide-snow avalanches. Beware snowdrift patches on shady slopes.

Avalanche danger is moderate above intermediate altitudes. Main danger: glide-snow avalanches, confirmed by many observers. In very steep wooded and grassy terrain, esp. on sunny slopes, glide-snow avalanches can be expected, usually medium-sized. Avoid zones below glide cracks. Minor fresh snow and brisk W/NW wines will form small fresh snowdrifts. Older drifts seldom prone to triggering.

The thoroughly wet snowpack is stabilizing due to lower temperatures, regaining firmness on the surface. The snowpack base is moist/wet, which leads to a gliding snow problem. On shady slopes the surface is often still dry, but faceted crystals and surface hoar can form, atop of which fresh snow and drifts get deposited, bonding is often poor. On higher-altitude shady slopes, faceted crystals near deeply embedded melt-freeze crusts weaken the snowpack.