Fischbach Alps East, Wechsel

Heed isolated snowdrift accumulations, recognizable by wind signs. AVOID zones below glide cracks.

Heed isolated snowdrift accumulations, recognizable by wind signs. AVOID zones below glide cracks.

Avalanche danger is low, avoid zones beneath glide cracks since the danger of glide-snow avalanches stands in the foreground in regions where snowfall has been heaviest. Due to lack of snow but permanent wind-impact, new snowdrifts have not generated significantly. Isolated patches are small. Large-area weak layers are currently unlikely. On shady slopes at high altitudes there is still a persistent weak layer, most recently in old blanketed surface hoar or faceted crystals beneath melt-freeze crusts. In exposed terrain, e.g. windblown gullies, it is hard and icy, there is a risk of being forced to take a fall.

The shift from higher to lower temperatures has stabilized the snowpack. At higher altitudes the snowpacks remain melt-freeze encrusted, on shady slopes with compacted powder. Due to lack of new snow the hardened old snowpack was only able to generate small and shallow snowdrifts.

A stormy westerly air current still dominates our weather. Following a dry but not clear night, a cold front will traverse the northern flank of the Alps on Monday, bringing low lying cloud and about 10 cm of fresh snow (above 800 m) to the region between Dachstein and Hochschwab. In the afternoon the precipitation will stop, the clouds temporarily disperse. As the front passes through, winds from west to northwest can reach gale strength, and it will remain stormy. Temperatures will drop significantly. At 2000 m: from 0 degrees in early morning to -8 degrees at midday; at 1500 m from +3 to -4 degrees. As a result of the cold front, the clouds bringing precipitation will also reach the southern regions, and winds will intensify. Sunshine will be rare. On Tuesday the air current will shift to northwesterly and it will become moister. By Wednesday afternoon, northern barrier clouds will bring up to 30 cm of fresh snow along the Northern Alps. In the southern massifs, it will remain largely dry.

Due to storm strength winds and the fresh snow generating new snowdrift accumulations, avalanche danger will increase slightly.