Hochschwab Mountains

Considerable avalanche danger due to fresh snow and snowdrifts. Also: beware glide-snow activity.

Considerable avalanche danger due to fresh snow and snowdrifts. Also: beware glide-snow activity.

At high and intermediate altitudes, considerable avalanche danger prevails due to huge amounts of fresh snow and fresh snowdrift accumulations. Danger zones are widespread, occur mostly on E/S facing slopes and extend down below the timberline. On wind-loaded slopes and, in particular, behind protruberances in the terrain and at entry points into gullies and bowls, slab avalanches can be triggered even by minimum additional loading (one person). On steep sunny slopes, naturally triggered loose-snow avalanches can be expected. On smooth grassy slopes, naturally triggered glide-snow avalanches are possible which in isolated cases can endanger exposed transportation routes. Zones below glide-cracks should be circumvented.

The snowpack fundament is moist at intermediate altitudes, and melt-freeze encrusted at high altitudes. On top of this up to 50 cm of fresh snow fell on Saturday, with little wind to start with, later on with strong-sto-storm NW winds, subsequently transporting the fresh snow to leeward slopes. Weak layers inside the fresh snow, in transitions to old snow, and inside the old snowpack pose threats.

Sunday will begin with strong velocity NW winds and residual barrier clouds in the Northern Alps and on the northern flank of Niedere Tauern. Reduced visibility, but not much snowfall is anticipated. During the morning the clouds will disperse. South of the Main Alpine Ridge it will be sunny right from the start. Temperatures at 2000 m will be -11 to -14 degrees, very wintery. Winds will still be strong from the northwest, particularly in the morning hours, but later on slacken off somewhat. In the western regions of Styria winds will generally be lighter.

On Monday, a warm front will bring compact cloud cover and higher temperatures to the mountains of Styria. Avalanche danger levels will recede gradually.