Hochschwab Mountains

Cold, fresh snowdrifts

Cold, fresh snowdrifts

Avalanche danger in the Northern Alps, Niedere Tauern and Hochschwab region is moderate above the treeline. Storm-strength winds have led to snow transport. Caution in N/E/S aspects: slab avalanches can be triggered even by minimum additional loading, and fracture down to older weak layers.

In the last 24 hours there has been about 10 cm of fresh snow registered in the Northern Alps, in the Niedere Tauern, less. On Monday night a few more centimetres will be added to it, amid wind impact. The fresh snow and fresh drifts will cover surface hoar. The old snowpack at high altitudes is being weakened by faceted crystals in some places.

In the nocturnal hours, snowfall is anticipated in the northern barrier cloud regions. During the morning a bit of further snowfall is expected. In the afternoon, cloudless skies will increase, the winds will slacken off, recede to the rimline ranges. At 2000 m: -7 degrees; temperatures are expected to rise from the west.

An intermediate high: frequent sunshine, mild temperatures. Winds wil be light to moderate from the west. At 2000 m: 0 degrees. Avalanche danger will recede.