Hochschwab Mountains

Low avalanche danger, but still isolated avalanche prone locations in the persistent weak layer!

Low avalanche danger, but still isolated avalanche prone locations in the persistent weak layer!

The avalanche risk is generally low. Nevertheless, there are individual avalanche prone locations, in particular behind terrain edges and in entrances to higher, steep, shady gullies and bowls. Small to medium-sized slab avalanches can occasionally be triggered by individuals. With daytime warming and incoming radiation, the triggering of small, wet avalanches on very steep sunny slopes increases somewhat.

On the surface, older wind slab snow can be found in places, which is usually sufficiently connected to the old snowpack. The snow base, fundament is often stable. Only in shady high altitudes does floating snow (cup crystals) continue to weaken the snow layering in places. Warmth and solar radiation lead to the moistening of the snowpack.

In the night to Wednesday, a warm front will bring some clouds, but it will remain dry. After the clouds clear, the sun will mostly shine into the early afternoon. With the arrival of a cold front from the north-west, cloud cover will increase in the afternoon. The wind from southerly directions will remain moderate during the day and will only shift to the north-west towards the evening as the front passes over, becoming much stronger. At an altitude of 2000 metres, temperatures around +2 degrees at midday, dropping to well below zero in the evening.

Onset of winter! With new fallen snow and widespread stormy winds, the risk of avalanches is increasing!