Hochschwab Mountains

Considerable avalanche danger above treeline. Beware fresh snowdrifts.

Considerable avalanche danger above treeline. Beware fresh snowdrifts.

Avalanche danger above the timberline is considerable, below that altitude danger is moderate. Particularly critical: wind-loaded gullies and steep slopes in extended northern aspects, since the drifts here lie deposited atop loose fresh snow or surface hoar. Self-restratin is necessary in all aspects due to snowdrift accumulations. Medium-sized slab avalanches can be triggered by 1 person, releases are likely in the danger zones. teep extended north-facing slopes, since many new snowdrift accumulations have been In addition, isolated medium-sized naturally triggered avalanches are possible.

The snowpack base is stable by and large, but moist, which means it can glide over smooth ground. Since Friday there has been up to 45 cm of fresh snow registered, often transported by southerly winds and deposited as snowdrifts on north-facing slopes atop soft layers of fresh snow and thin layers of surface hoar.

On Sunday, mostly sunny with some cloudbanks, moderate SW winds, brisker on the eastern rim of the Alps. At 2000 m: -1 to -3 degrees.

If the SW airstream persists, clouds will dominate on Monday but it will remain dry. The snowdrift problem will recede slowly, avalanche danger levels decrease.