Hochschwab Mountains

Avalanche danger increases above the tree line with new fallen snow and wind

Avalanche danger increases above the tree line with new fallen snow and wind

There is a moderate avalanche risk above the tree line. New fallen snow and sometimes stormy north-westerly winds create fresh snowdrift accumulations. Especially behind broad ridges and ridgelines as well as in gullies and bowls, these can be disturbed in places by individuals and triggered as small to medium-sized slab avalanches. The avalanche prone locations are usually easy to recognise if visibility is good. Apere areas are covered by new fallen snow, making it difficult to recognise the risk of injury.

Under the influence of strong winds, 5 - 15 cm of new fallen snow, locally even more, falls on a crusted can form old snowpack. In many places, a built-up transformed surface or surface hoar is covered. The connection between the drift snow layer and the persistent weak layer is poor. On the shady slopes, there are sometimes weak layers of faceted crystals in the old snow foundation. At lower altitudes, the snow often falls on apery ground.

The coming night will initially be clear and free of disturbances. After midnight, the first cloud fields will move in from the north and a cold front with cold polar air will reach the forecast area in the morning hours. Clouds and fog will bring snow showers to the north of the Alps by midday, but only a few more snowflakes will make it over the Tauern. Visibility will be limited in the north-west. The temperature during the day will be around -12 degrees at an altitude of 2000 metres and around -9 degrees at an altitude of 1500 metres. There will be strong winds with gusts of 80 km/h and more from the north-west. The snowfall level will be in the valleys. Amounts of new snow of up to 15 cm are expected, locally even more. Most precipitation will fall in the Totes Gebirge, the Dachstein region and the Hochschwab area.

It will remain windy and cold on New Year's Eve, with a few centimetres of new fallen snow again along the northern side of the Alps. Watch out for the wind slab problem!