Hochschwab Mountains

Favorable conditions for backcountry tours continue

Favorable conditions for backcountry tours continue

Low danger still prevails in Styria. Isolated avalanche prone locations occur on north-facing slopes, where there is a persistent weak layer (deeply embedded). A slab avalanche triggering on extremely steep shady slopes cannot be ruled out. Older snowdrift accumulations on north-facing slopes near ridgelines can also be triggered. Slopes directly below glide cracks (“wishbones”) should be avoided due to gliding snow movements. On sunny slopes, wet slides can release naturally in the afternoon.

Along the Niedere Tauern and Northern Alps there are shallow fresh snowdrift patches (generated on Friday and Saturday) deposited near ridgelines atop surface hoar; elsewhere at high altitude the surfaces are hard and icy. On sunny slopes, foehn conditions prevail. The snowpack is hard in early morninig, softens and moistens during the daytime; at low altitudes it is wet. On extremely steep shady slopes, faceted crystals are weakening the snowpack layering.

Tuesday: lots of cloud passing through from the west, including sand and dust from the Sahara which will make the air hazy, but it will remain dry and the highest peaks will be free of fog. At 2000 m: +3 degrees, westerly winds will intensify (60 km/hr in the evening). On Tuesday night a front will pas through, bringing snowfall to the mountains (snowfall level initially 1700m, then descending to 1200 m during the nocturnal hours). About 20 cm of fresh snow is expected at high altitude. On Wednesday, rainfall in the morning, a bit of snowfall in the Northern Alps, poor visibility, snowfall level between 1200 ad 1400 m. On the southern flank of the Alps, dry, and clouds will disperse. In the afternoon, the clouds and fog will disperse also in the northern regions.

Avalanche danger is expected to increase somewhat on Wednesday.