Hochschwab Mountains

Moderate danger, isolated persistent weak layer on north-facing slopes, snowdrift patches on south-facing slopes

Moderate danger, isolated persistent weak layer on north-facing slopes, snowdrift patches on south-facing slopes

Isolated slab avalanches can be triggered by large additional loading on high-altitude north-facing slopes near entries into extremely steep gullies and slopes (persistent weak layer). In addition, on south-facing slopes there are shallow snowdrifts behind protruberances which often can trigger as small slab avalanches even be minimum additional loading. Caution: danger of falling on icy surfaces.

At low altitudes the snowpack is moist and, depending on altitude, covered with a melt-freeze crusts which is often capable of bearing loads. At high altitudes the surface is iced over. During Friday night surface hoar formed in some places, now blanketed by shallow snowdrifts. The fundament is compact by and large, only in very high shady terrain are there isolated weak layers in the old snow.

Sunday will be mostly sunny, but in northeastern regions the fog could extend up to 1500 m. Winds will intensify, blow at storm strength from the northwest. Highest wind speeds will be in eastern mountain regions of Styria (over 90 km/hr). Temperature at 2000 m at midday: 0 degrees, descending by evening to -4 degrees. On Sunday night a cold front will pass through, bringing a bit of new snow to the eastern part of the northern barrier cloud regions.

Fresh snowdrift accumulations will increase avalanche danger slightly.