Hochschwab Mountains

Moderate avalanche danger at high altitudes due to fresh drifts in southern aspects

Moderate avalanche danger at high altitudes due to fresh drifts in southern aspects

The main avalanche danger currently stems from small, fresh snowdrift accumulations at high altitudes in southern aspects. On shady slopes and at entries to extremely steep gullies and bowls, large additional loading can trigger slab avalanches, small slabs also by minimum additional loading. Caution is also required to the perils of being forced to take a fall on the icy surfaces. Below 1800 m the drifts are no longer relevant to avalanche formation. The gliding snow at intermediate and low altitudes is slowly diminishing, but natural triggerings still occur in isolated cases.

At low and intermediate altitudes the snowpack is thoroughly wet and, depending on altitude, covered with a melt-freeze crust. On steep, grass-covered slopes a glide film has formed. At high altitudes the surface is ice-encrusted, beneath that the snowpack is compact and evidences no weak layers. Only in very shady high altitude terrain are there still weak layers (faceted crystals) which can fracture from large additional loading. As a result of strong-to-stormy northerly winds on Friday, small fresh snowdrift accumulations will be generated in south-facing aspects, but will be relatively well bonded with the snow base.

On Friday, mostly sunny mountain weather, only in the Hochschwab region will heavy cloud impede the sun somewhat. Here in the evening, minor snowfall is possible. Winds will be strong to stormy from NW to N. Temperature at 2000 m at midday: about -2 degrees, dropping by evening to -5 degrees in some places.

Avalanche danger will slowly recede.