Rax - Schneeberggebiet

More new fallen snow than expected! Beware of prone to triggering wind slabs at higher elevations!

More new fallen snow than expected! Beware of prone to triggering wind slabs at higher elevations!

The avalanche risk is considerable above the tree line. New fallen snow and stormy winds create avalanche prone locations in the form of fresh wind slabs. These continue to grow with persistent stormy north-westerly winds, especially at higher altitudes. In some places, especially in steep entrance areas, gullies and bowls, these can already be triggered by individual winter sports enthusiasts as slab avalanches. At lower altitudes, spontaneous wet snow slides from very steep areas and smaller gliding avalanches cannot be ruled out with rain.

Stormy north-westerly winds and up to 25 cm of new fallen snow are increasingly forming fresh snowdrift accumulations. The connection between the drift snow packs and the old snowpack is insufficient in places. Prone to triggering weak layers in the form of snow deposits of varying hardness also exist in places in the bound layer. In shady high altitudes, the old snowpack is unfavourably structured in places with crusts and embedded faceted crystals. With increasing moisture penetration, the snowpack loses stability at lower altitudes and can also start to glide snow on steep grass and forest slopes.

In the second half of the night on Tuesday, heavy precipitation will set in in places on the northern side of the Alps with snowfall levels between 1000 and 1400 metres. On Tuesday, the mountain peaks of Lower Austria will initially be covered in thick clouds. It will snow heavily from these. A total of 10 - 25 cm of new fallen snow is possible. The precipitation will continue in the afternoon, but will be much weaker. In addition, a strong north-westerly wind will blow at high altitudes. The temperature at 1000 metres will be around 0 degrees, at 2000 metres around -3 degrees.

High pressure influence and massive warming at high altitude from midday on Wednesday. The zero-degree level will rise towards 3000 metres in the evening. The wet snow problem is a priority at all altitudes and will increase briefly!