Hochschwab Mountains

Moderate avalanche danger at high altitudes

Moderate avalanche danger at high altitudes

At higher altitudes the avalanche danger is moderate. Avalanche prone locations are found mostly on E/S facing slopes in rigeline terrain and gullies/bowls. A slab can trigger even by minimum additional loading, i.e. one sole skier. Due to solar radiation, particularly in regions where recent snowfall has been heaviest, e.g. Hochschwab, naturally triggered avalanches are also possible.

In the last 24 hours the focal point of precipitation has been in the Hochschwab region. In the higher altitude zones there has been up to 30 cm of fresh snow registered, amid wind impact. In the Niedere Tauern there was little fresh snow. From Greim to Koralpe there was no fresh snow registered. Snowdrift accumulations cover surface hoar or hardened weak layers. The depth of the snowdrifts is highly variable. The larges of them are found in the Hochschwab region and Ennstal and Eisenerz Alps. In the Niedere Tauern and Gurktal and Seetal Alps the snowdrifts layers are much shallower. The old snowpack itself has been weakened by faceted crystals inside it. In northern aspects there will soon be a persistent weak layer to worry about.

Wednesday: frequent sunshine in the Northern Alps. A few clouds will move through during the day. Temperatures at high altitudes will rise slightly. At 2000 m: -8 degrees. The northerly winds will be brisk over the crests and summits especially along the Main Alpine Ridge (25-50 km/hr). Thursday: frequent sunshine particularly in the western regions. Temperatures rising.

Avalanche danger will decrease.