Hochschwab Mountains

Latent persistent weak layer problem, slightly increasing wet snow problem

Latent persistent weak layer problem, slightly increasing wet snow problem

The avalanche risk is low. Nevertheless, there is still a persistent weak layer problem in the extended northern sector. Occasionally, mainly in very steep gullies and bowls, slab avalanches can be triggered by people. The avalanche prone locations are usually difficult to recognise and are often located in transition areas from a little to a lot of snow. On sunny slopes, incoming radiation increases the probability of triggering small wet snow avalanches. In steep terrain, there is a risk of falling on the hard snow surface.

With outgoing longwave radiation, a melt-freeze crust can form, which softens on the sunny slopes during the day with increasing moisture penetration. On shady slopes at higher altitudes, there are still isolated areas with a soft (faceted) snow surface, where the firmness of the layer changes depending on altitude and exposure. Below this there is an increasingly sufficiently settled and compact snowpack, the transition to the foundation consisting of deep rime (floating snow) is still poor. Medium and low altitudes are often free of snow.

After a few showers have subsided, Thursday night will be largely dry. It will be only slightly cloudy to the south, but the next clouds will move in after midnight in the north-west with a weak low-pressure influence. Thursday will start mainly cloudy in the north-west, with a few rain or snow showers in the morning. From midday, partly thundery showers with graupel will also be possible in the rest of the mountains, and the sun will generally make itself scarce. The frost line will briefly drop to around 1500 metres in the north, but no significant amounts of precipitation or new snow are expected. The temperature at 2000 m will be between -3 and +1 degrees, at 1500 m between 0 and +4 degrees. The wind will be moderate from northerly and westerly directions.

Quite sunny and dry on Friday and Saturday. With a wind shift to the south-west, it will be partly foehn. Little change in the avalanche danger.