Hochschwab Mountains

Trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations at high altitudes

Trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations at high altitudes

Above the timberline, 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. A slab on shady slopes can fracture down to more deeply embedded layers inside the snowpack and attain medium size. Other danger zones occur in freshly wind-loaded gullies and bowls, where the old snow had not melted.

On Tuesday, fresh snow and stormy SW/NW winds transported the snow to east-facing slopes, where they formed snowdrift accumulations near ridgelines and behind abrupt discontinuities in the terrain in particular, and are poorly bonded with the melt-freeze encrusted old snowpack surface above the timberline due to faceted crystal layers. On Monday, 10-15 cm of fresh snow was registered. Furthermore, faceted, weak layers are evident inside the old snowpack fundament on shady north-facing slopes, potential weak layer. Even if the snowfall makes the slopes turn white again, snow depths in general are still extremely below average.

Tuesday will bring heavy cloud to the northern massifs, persistent snowfall (light to moderate). South of the Schladminger Tauern, the strong to stormy NW winds will disperse the clouds and sunshine will come through. In the afternoon, clouds in the Northern Alps will also disperse. At 2000 m: -8 degrees, stormy winds, gusts at 40-80 km/hr, in exposed terrain reaching 100 km/hr.

Avalanche danger levels will increase over the next few days.