Hochschwab Mountains

Heed: fresh snowdrift masses at high altitudes

Heed: fresh snowdrift masses at high altitudes

Avalanche danger above 2000 m is moderate, below that altitude danger is moderate. Some fresh snow and intensifying NW winds continue to generate fresh small snowdrift accumulations. Wet loose-snow avalanches on extremely steep slopes which have not yet discharged are isolated, possible in case of longer solar radiation and large amounts of rain.

At high altitudes in the Northern Alps (Dachstein region, Totes Gebirge, Hochschwab region) and in the Niedere Tauern there has been repeated snowfall since Monday, more will come on Tuesday night amid moderate-to-strong NW winds, generating fresh snowdrifts which will be prone to triggering, esp. on shady slopes. At intermediate altitudes the snowpack will regain firmness only briefly, rain and extended phases of solar radiation will destabilize it further. On extremely steep grassy slopes the thoroughly wet snowpack can simply glide away.

After the high-pressure trough recedes, the weather in the Northern Alps remains gloomy and instable. On Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, repeated bouts of snowfall amid NW air-current which will make the snowfall level descend for a brief spell down to 800 m. On the southern flank of the Alps, conditions are more pleasant, milder and sunnier. Particularly in the rimline ranges, the tendency to snowfall will rise in the afternoon. At 2000 m: -4 to 0 degrees, rising somewhat in the afternoon. The NW wind is moderate, stronger at high altitudes.

The NW air-current will abide, bringing moist Atlantic air masses, i.e. instable April weather with sunny intervals, clouds, regional bouts of precipitation, milder temperatures as the day progresses. Avalanche danger is not expected to change significantly.