Hochschwab Mountains

Fresh snowdrift and poor visibility!

Fresh snowdrift and poor visibility!

Moderate to considerable avalanche danger above 1.600 m. The main problem is the fresh snowdrift, danger spots are located distant from ridgelines. Snowdrift deposits emerge adjacent to ridgelines, in gullies and bowls and can also occur below the treeline. Medium sized slab avalanches can be triggered by low additional loads.

On Monday cold new snow has landed on wet snow or - in higher altitudes - powder snow. In westerly Northalps 40 cm new snow is expected for Christmas which can be transported due to stormy winds. The summits can be blown-off but driftsnow can accumulate below treeline. Soft layers within the snowdrift and poor bonding to the old snow base can be weak layers.

Ongoing Nordstau weather with low clouds. Monday night precipitation will intensify with thick snow in the morning. These are only getting lesser in the afternoon. Stormy to hurricane-like winds especially on summit areas. South ofcthe alps the weather conditions are better with scattered clouds and some isolated snow showers and stormy winds. Temperatures at noon: in the north -11 degrees in 2.000 m and -7 degrees in 1.500 m, in the south -9 respectively-6 degrees. On 25th scattered clouds to clear skies, the wind dies down and the temperatures are rising slowly. In 26th clear skies, mild temperatures are less winds.

For now no significant change of the avalanche danger. On 26th a slow settling duetting warming is expected.