Hochschwab Mountains

Moderate avalanche danger. Trigger-sensitive snowdrifts at high altitudes.

Moderate avalanche danger. Trigger-sensitive snowdrifts at high altitudes.

Above 1800 m, moderate danger prevails, below that altitude danger is low. Main problem: fresh snowdrifts, near ridgelines and behind abrupt discontinuities in the terrain, which can be triggered even by minimum additional loading. Danger zones are located particularly at entries to gullies and bowls and in transitions from shallow to deep snow. A slab on shady slopes can fracture down to more deeply embedded layers inside the snowpack and attain medium size. Caution urged especially on south-facing slopes where naturally triggered loose-snow or glide-snow avalanches can release during the course of the day.

The fresh snow of recent days and on Wednesday night was transported to extended east-facing terrain, where snowdrifts accumulated in gullies and bowls, behind abrupt discontinuities in the terrain, often quite deep ones which are poorly bonded with the old snowpack. There are from place to place weak layers or graupel inside the old snowpack. Furthermore, on shady slopes there are faceted layers evident. At intermediate altitudes the snow depths are far below average.

On Wednesday night, a front will bring snowfall above 1400 m. In early morning hours the clouds will swiftly disperse, but as of midday, cloud cover will move in once again. Initially it will remain dry, but light snowfall will set in during the evening hours in the furthermost northern mountains. Winds will be strong during the night, moderate during the daytime, from the west. At midday at 2000 m: -2 degrees.

On Friday, skies will be heavily overcast, the peaks will be hidden in clouds. In the morning it will remain dry, by evening in Upper Styria, some precipitation will set in, the snowfall level will lie at 1400 m. As a result of mild temperatures, the brittle snowdrifts will continue to settle.