Mürztal Alps

Strong easterly winds - new danger zones on west-facing slopes

Strong easterly winds - new danger zones on west-facing slopes

Avalanche danger is moderate. Danger zones lie on west-facing slopes near ridgelines where there are snowdrifts. Special caution urged on north-facing slopes at high altitudes: a persistent weak layer. A slab release is possible by large additional loading, small-to-medium avalanches are possible.

On Sunday, 10-20 cm of fresh snow was registered, which will be transported on Monday by strong velocity easterly winds, deposited as snowdrift accumulations on west-facing slopes above the timberline, on a hardened old snowpack surface. On north-facing slopes the old snowpack is unfavourably layered.

At the edge of a low over Italy, the front has the southeastern regions in its grip. Weather conditions are highly inhospitable: heavy clouds, peaks wreathed in fog, snowfall in the western regions of Styria: up to 20 cm of fresh snow is anticipated, plus stormy E/NE winds (up to 80 km/hr). Further to the northwest, much less snowfall. At 2000 m: -4 degrees. Snowfall level at about 800 m.

On Tuesday, widespread snowfall to start with, intensive in the Koralm region. During the day the snowfall will ease. In northern regions it will soon terminate, the clouds slowly disperse. Moderate to brisk NE winds (30-50 km/hr). At 2000 m: -3 degrees. No significant change in avalanche danger levels is expected.