Hochschwab Mountains

At high altitudes moderate avalanche danger due to fresh drifts

At high altitudes moderate avalanche danger due to fresh drifts

Avalanche danger is moderate above 2000 m, below that altitude danger is low. Danger zones occur on E/S facing slopes at entries to steep gullies and bowls and in general behind discontinuities in the terrain where fresh snowdrifts can trigger a medium slab avalanche by 1 person.

The snowpack base has consolidated due to lower temperatures and formed a melt-freeze crust at the transition to the fresh snow. Atop of it, fresh snow has been deposited since Sunday evening, partly transported to E/S facing terrain. The fresh snowdrifts may contain weak layers or could develop weak layers at transitions to the old snow.

In the northern barrier cloud regions between Dachstein and Hochschwab, snow showers will move through repeatedly on Wednesday night, amid brisk NW winds. By Thursday, 10-15 cm of fresh snow is expected, in places up to 20 cm. On the southern flank of the Alps near the Fischbach Alps and Graz Mountains, 5-10 cm of fresh snow is expected. The southern mountains will be favored, hardly any precipitation is expected. At 2000 m: -7 to -5 degrees.

Weather will remain changeable and cool, along the northern flank of the Alps repeated bouts of snowfall. Avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly.