Hochschwab Mountains

Cold, fresh snowdrift accumulations

Cold, fresh snowdrift accumulations

Avalanche danger in Niedere Tauern and Hochschwab region is moderate above the timberline. Storm-strength winds plus fresh snow are leading to massive snow transport. Caution urged particularly in N/E/S aspects, where slabs can be triggered even by minimum additional loading.

In the last 24 hours between Dachstein and Hochschwab there has been 20 cm of fresh snow registered. In the Niedere Tauern the amounts were smaller. The fresh snow and fresh drifts now blanket surface hoar in wind-protected zones, or soft layers. A further potential weak layer lies inside the drifts themselves. The old snowpack is often riddled with faceted crystals surrounding melt-freeze crusts: these are weak layers.

From Dachstein to Hochschwab, repeated bouts of snowfall (10-20 cm of fresh snow expected, locally more). Some interim pauses are expected, even a bit of sunshine is possible. but towards midday the snowfall will set in once again.

Between Dachstein and Wechsel region it will snow all day long. In the focal points between Auseer and Mariazeller Land there could be 40-50 cm of fresh snow, more from place to place. South of the Niedere Tauern there will be less snowfall, least of all in the Koralm region (only 5 cm). Avalanche danger levels will increase to “considerable.” Naturally triggered avalanches can be expected on Saturday.