Hochschwab Mountains

Moderate avalanche danger at high altitudes

Moderate avalanche danger at high altitudes

At higher altitudes avalanche danger is moderate. We are in an extremely windy phase which have generated great snowdrift accumulations. To some extent prone-to-triggering drifts are found in N/E/S aspecdts generally near ridgelines, in gullies and bowls. A slab avalanche can be triggered even by the weight of one sole skier. Due to solar radiation and the milder temperatures the freshest layer can trigger naturally in steep rocky terrain.

Until the beginning of the week there was fresh snowfall (pu to 30 cm) in the northern barrier cloud regions. Along the Niedere Tauern there was less, southwards thereof none at all. Due to strong-to-stormy winds the snow was transported, generating new snowdrift accumulations. Weak layers inside the snowpack and blanketed hoar are more easily triggered than the transitions to melt-freeze encrusted old snow. The old snowpack itself is weakened by faceted crystals.

Thursday will be predominantly sunny in all of Styria, but the latter part of the day could be clouded over. A strong (at summit level, storm-strength) northerly wind will be blowing. Temperatures will rise. At 1500 m: -1 degree at midday, towards evening +1 degree; at 2000 m: -3 degrees at midday, towards evening 0 degrees.

Friday will be brilliantly sunny. A storm-strength NW wind will be blowing. At 2000 m: 0 degrees. The cold weather phase is coming to an end, it will soon be milder. Avalanche danger can thereafter recede.