Hochschwab Mountains

Fresh drifts due to new snow + storm winds

Fresh drifts due to new snow + storm winds

At higher altitudes the new snow will often be deposited atop a smooth, melt-freeze encrusted old snowpack surface, initially amid little wind impact. The smooth surfaces are an unfavorable base for the bonded drifts, as the day unfolds the proneness to triggering is expected to increase. In places, facted weak layers beneath the melt-freeze crust can trigger the old snowpack. At lower altitudes, bonding of the moist old snow to the shallow snowpack is better.

At high altitude, heavy snowfall deposited atop a frequently smooth, melt-freeze encrusted snowpack surface, initially with little wind impact. Bot the smooth surface and the persistent soft snowpack layers constitute an unfavorable base for the bonded snowdrifts. Moreover, during the course of the day the proneness to triggering will increase. In places, facted weak layers beneath the melt-freeze crust can be triggered. At lower altitudes the bonding of new snow to the often shallow snowpack is better, but even the drifts are prone to triggering in forest clearances.

A powerful cold front and a low over Genoa will bring winter conditions back on Wednesday. Right from the start, most summits will be shrouded in fog, from the northwest snowfall will begin. By evening: 15-30 cm is expected, more from place to place. Snowfall level will descend by evening from 1200-1500 m down to valley floors in many areas. Winds will be strong to stormy, shifting gradually to northwesterly. Temperatures will continually drop: at 2000 m from -1 in the morning to -9 in the evening. At 1500 m: from slightly above zero to -6 degrees. On Thursday in the Northern Alps and northern Niedere Tauern, initially clouds and minor snowfall. As of midday, improving weather conditions, dispersed clouds. On the southern flank of the Alps, mostly pleasant conditions, but cold and windy.

Little change in avalanche danger.