Hochschwab Mountains

Moderate avalanche danger above treeline due to snowdrifts

Moderate avalanche danger above treeline due to snowdrifts

Above the treeline avalanche danger is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. Main problem: fresh, trigger-prone snowdrifts on E/W facing slopes. Slab avalanches can be triggered by 1 person in the fresh fallen snow, releases medium-sized. In addition, in extended north-facing terrain, older snowdrift masses from the weekend can still trigger slab avalanches by large additional loading. Beware esp. the entries into steep gullies and bowls, also behind discontinuities, the strong winds can form trigger-prone snowdrift accumulations also in wooded zones. In isolated cases below open glide cracks on steep smooth slopes, naturally triggered glide-snow avalanches can be expected. Avoid these zones.

Fresh snow and drifts have been deposited atop a generally stable and thoroughly moist (superficially melt-freeze encrusted) snowpack. Older snowdrifts occur on north-facing slopes, freshly generated drifts on E/S facing slopes. Both in transitions to the old snopack and inside the fresh snowdrifts there are weak layers. The snowpack base is often moist, tends to glide over steep smooth ground.

On Thursday barrier clouds will lodge against the northern flank of the Alps, minor snowfall from them is possible, but intermittent sunshine is still expected. On the southern flank of the Alps, sunnier in the morning than in the north; in afternoon from the west, clouds will move in. The NW winds will be brisk on the eastern rim of the Alps, elsewhere only moderate. At 2000 m: +1 degree.

On Friday, milder, moderate westerly winds, clouds passing through. The snowdrift problem will gradually recede, avalanche danger levels drop.