Hochschwab Mountains

Persistent weak layer problem in northern and eastern aspects!

Persistent weak layer problem in northern and eastern aspects!

The avalanche risk is assessed as moderate above 1,800 metres and low below that. Slab avalanches can be triggered in some places even with little additional load and can reach medium size when breaking through the persistent weak layer. The danger areas are still located in the north to east aspects behind ridgelines and terrain edges as well as in the entrance areas to steep gullies and bowls.

Some new or drift snow covers surface hoar and, at higher altitudes, older drift snow in the northern and eastern exposures on an unstable snowpack with weak layers of faceted crystals and floating snow. The connection between the wind slab and the old snowpack will not be sufficient. On the sunny slopes, the old snowpack is mostly settled and quite compact.

The light precipitation will subside in the evening. The night will bring precipitation-free weather, with some soft spells. On Sunday, the mountain peaks will become increasingly foggy from early in the morning and rain and snow will occur frequently in the morning. A few centimetres of new fallen snow will accumulate, especially from the main Alpine ridge southwards, but there will be hardly any snow in the Totes Gebirge or on the Dachstein. At an altitude of 2000 metres it will be -3 to -1 degrees. The temperature at an altitude of 2000 metres is around -1 degrees. The temperature at an altitude of 1500 metres is between -1 and 3 degrees. Brisk to strong winds with gusts of 60 to 80 km/h from the south. The snowfall level will be between the valleys and around 1400 metres above sea level. Amounts of new snow of up to 10 cm are expected.

On Monday morning, residual clouds and the last showers, increasingly sunny during the day. Sunny weather on Tuesday under the influence of intermediate highs. No significant change in the avalanche danger is expected.