Hochschwab Mountains

Quite isolated ridgeline snowdrift patches, naturally triggered glide-snow avalanches in steep terrain

Quite isolated ridgeline snowdrift patches, naturally triggered glide-snow avalanches in steep terrain

From Hochschwab to Rax, low avalanche danger. On steep slopes in all aspects, naturally triggered glide-snow/wet-snow avalanches can’t be excluded. Open glide cracks are indicators of imminent danger. In addition, at high altitudes in extended east-facing terrain behind discontinuities there are snowdrift accumulations which in places can be triggered by 1 person, releases reaching medium-to-large size.

At high altitudes, isolated older snowdrift patches were generated, the drifts have not yet bonded with the snowpack surface. The minor fresh snow above 2000 m was moist, thus not prone to transport. On sunny slopes the snowpack is mostly isotherm and moist, on Sunday melt-freeze crusts could form due to lower temperatures. On shady slopes there are still reserves of cold. Windblown slopes and crests are often hard or icy, such danger zones are especially risky for falling. Up to high altitudes the snowpack is very moist-to-wet due to rain impact, can glide over smooth ground. An area-wide snowpack begins only above the treeline.

In the wake of a minor cold front, high-pressure conditions will move in. Sunday will start with cloud cover, esp. on the northern flank of the Alps, brief rain/snow showers are possible, later on sunnier, and in late afternoon high-altitiude clouds moving in from the west. Light winds. At 2000 m: -1 degree; at 1500 m: +4 degrees. On Monday the next perturbance will arrive in the north, heavy clouds from the start, followed by light snowfall, snowfall level at 1500 m. Isolated showers could spread to the south. The NW winds will be light-to-moderate, temperatures will drop slightly.

Avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly. The gliding snow problem will persist.