Hochschwab Mountains

Moderate avalanche danger above treeline due to snowdrifts

Moderate avalanche danger above treeline due to snowdrifts

Above the treeline avalanche danger is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. Main problem: fresh, trigger-prone snowdrifts on E/W facing slopes. Slab avalanches can be triggered by 1 person in the fresh fallen snow, releases medium-sized. In addition, in extended north-facing terrain, older snowdrift masses from the weekend can still trigger slab avalanches by large additional loading. Beware esp. the entries into steep gullies and bowls, also behind discontinuities, the strong winds can form trigger-prone snowdrift accumulations also in wooded zones. In isolated cases below open glide cracks on steep smooth slopes, naturally triggered glide-snow avalanches can be expected. Avoid these zones.

Fresh drifts have been deposited atop a generally stable and thoroughly moist (superficially melt-freeze encrusted) snowpack. Older snowdrifts occur on north-facing slopes, freshly generated drifts on E/S facing slopes. The amounts of recent fresh snow: 15 cm in SW regions and 35 cm in NE regions. Both in transitions to the old snopack and inside the fresh snowdrifts there are weak layers. The snowpack base is often moist, tends to glide over steep smooth ground.

On Wednesday weather conditions will settle down. From the north, heav clouds will move over the Northern Alps and Main Alpine Ridge, visibility will be reduced, light snowfall is expected, snowfall level at 1000 m, rising slightly during the course of the day. In afternoon, clouds will disperse. South of the Main Alpine Ridge, mostly sunshine and dry. Winds will be strong from northwest, slacken off towards evening. At 2000 m: -3 in the north to 0 degrees in the south of Styria.

On Thursday, scattered clouds with sunshine, rising temperatures. The snowdrift problem will gradually recede.