Hochschwab Mountains

Despite low danger, heed persistent weak layer on shady slopes

Despite low danger, heed persistent weak layer on shady slopes

Avalanche danger throughout Styria is low. Older snowdrift accumulations can be triggered by large additional loading on shady slopes in a few places (near ridgelines, behind abrupt discontinuities in the terrain, at edges and entries into gullies and bowls). In extremely steep terrain, today’s rainfall can trigger isolated small wet slides.

The fundament is largely stable, only on shady high altitude slopes is there a persistent weak layer in isolated places (older drifts atop a faceted fundament). The generally shallow snowdrifts accumulated over the last few days have settled well due to higher temperatures. As a result of solar radiation and significantly higher temperatures, firn-like snow has been created on south-facing slopes.

On Thursday, lots of sunshine is expected. In the morning hours a perturbance will pass through, heavy clouds bring light rainfall/snowfall only from place to place. The snowfall level will lie between 1800 and 2000 m. In addition, SW winds will be blowing at moderate strength. In the afternoon winds will shift to W/NW and intensify somewhat in the Northern Alps in particular. On the northern flank of the Alps, precipitation will set in and the snowfall level temporarily descend. At 2000 m at midday: +2 degrees, in the evening -2 degrees, the snowfall level will descend in the afternoon/evening briefly down to nearly 1500 m. On Friday, gray skies will prevail in the mountains of Styria. Especially in the Northern Alps, the peaks will be shrouded all day in heavy cloud, intermittent rainfall and snowfall is expected. The snowfall level will hover around 2000 m. South of the Main Alpine Ridge it will be intermittently sunny to start with, clouds will become heavier later in the day but hardly any precipitation is anticipated. Winds in ridgeline and summit zones will be brisk from the west. At 2000 m: +1 degree.

No significant change in avalanche danger levels is anticipated. As a result of fresh snowfall and wind, small snowdrift masses will be generated in high alpine terrain on the northern flank of the Alps.