Hochschwab Mountains

Despite low danger, heed snowdrift accumulations!

Despite low danger, heed snowdrift accumulations!

Avalanche danger is low throughout Styria, but in a few danger zones small slab avalanches can be triggered by additional loading. These avalanche prone locations are found in snowdrift accumulations near ridgelines, behind abrupt discontinuities in the terrain and at the edges and entries of gullies and bowls. Particularly critical: shady zones where bonding of the snowdrift patches to the base is insufficient. Due to higher temperatures, small naturally triggered loose avalanches can be expected.

The fundament is largely stable, due to the changing warm-to-cold temperatures, only in shady high altitude terrain is there still a persistent weak layer, atop of which lie small snowdrift accumulations which are poorly bonded with the base beneath them. Due to the shallow snowpack, only small-sized slab releases are to be expected. Due to solar radiation and warmth, small naturally triggered loose-snow avalanches are possible on south-facing slopes.

On Monday morning, cloudbanks will pass through but it will remain dry. As of midday, more sunshine is expected. Temperatures will continue to climb. At 2000 m by evening: +6 degrees, while it will remain cold in the valleys. Winds will be light from the west.Also on Tuesday it will be mild and sunny by and large.

Due to higher temperatures, the snowdrifts will stabilise. Naturally triggering avalanches will increase somewhat.