Hochschwab Mountains

Beware snowdrifts on high-altitude shady slopes

Beware snowdrifts on high-altitude shady slopes

Avalanche danger above the treeline is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. Due to strong southerly foehn winds, fresh snowdrift accumulations are being generated on north-facing slopes: attention required. Danger zones increase with ascending altitude, occur behind discontinuities and in gullies and bowls on W/N/E facing slopes, also distant from ridges, slabs can be triggered by 1 person and can be medium-sized. Danger of glide-snow avalanches rising in steep sunny grass-covered terrain at all altitudes. Avoid zones below glide cracks. On sunny slopes, isolated small-to-medium naturally triggered loose-snow avalanches possible in steep rocky terrain.

On Wednesday night from Gurktal and Seetal Alps to Niedere Tauern : up to 15 cm of snow fell, transported by stormy southerly foehn winds to leeward slopes. Weak layers exist (loose layers & faceted forms) in transitions to the snow base and drifts. Isolated more deeply embedded weak layers near crusts are evident on shady slopes in isolated cases. Due to rainfall and warmth the snowpack rapidly becomes moist and forfeits its firmness. Increasing moistness down to the ground leads to gliding activity of the entire snowpack. The slopes are becoming bare of snow.

Following the precipitation on Wednesday night, sunshine widespread on Thursday morning but with strong-to-stormy southerly foehn winds. In afternoon, heavy clouds will move in, showers will be prevalent, winds will shift to NW and temperatures will drop. On Thursday evening, snowfall down to 1000 m. At 2000 m: 0 degrees; at 1500 m: +5 degrees, below zero in the evening.

On Good Friday, very sunny, mild, quite windy. Main problem: snowdrifts.