Hochschwab Mountains

Moderate avalanche danger - fresh snowdrift accumulations at high altitudes

Moderate avalanche danger - fresh snowdrift accumulations at high altitudes

Avalanche danger above 1600m is considerable below that altitude there is little snow on the ground. Main danger: freshly generated snowdrift accumulations at high altitudes. Particularly on steep east-facing entries, one sole skier can trigger a slab avalanche. The snowpack is much moistened up to high altitudes, naturally triggered glide-snow avalanches are possible at any time of day or night.

The fresh snow from the beginning of the week has settled well at all altitudes. The snowpack is moist-to-wet, bonding to the ground can be lost in all aspects at any time. Fresh snow and NW winds have transported the snow to behind abrupt drops in the terrain where it is bonding well with the old snow. But inside the drifts themselves are layers of graupel or soft layers which are weak.

Starting on Friday afternoon, precipitation from the northwest will move south over the mountains of Styria, the snowfall level will lie at 1600m. Saturday will be cool and instable. Cloud cover will be dense in the morning, snow showers are expected in the northern regions, the snowfall level will lie at 1500m. In the afternoon, variably cloudy, snow showers possible everywhere, but frequent sunshine, too. Winds will be brisk to strong from northwest. At 2000 m: 0 degrees at midday. On Sunday, further snowfall. Temperatures will descend a notch further.

The snowdrift problem will become more pronounced