Hochschwab Mountains

Winds are southerly! Snowdrift accumulations on north-facing slopes.

Winds are southerly! Snowdrift accumulations on north-facing slopes.

Avalanche danger above the treeline is moderate. Danger zones occur mostly on NW/N/NE facing slopes, where fresh drifts have accumulated and can be triggered by minimum additional loading. Special caution is urged near ridgelines at the entry points into gullies and bowls (transition from shallow to deep snow). In the Eisener Alps, Gesäuse and Hochschwaben regions there are numerous glide-cracks. These can trigger glide-snow avalanches at intermediate altitudes in particular.

The huge amounts of snowdrifted masses from the last few days have been able to settle. More deeply embedded inside the snowpack are layers of faceted crystals and melt-freeze crusts which weaken the entire snowpack. On steep south-facing slopes a melt-freeze crust has formed. On Wednesday afternoon, SW winds will transport the snow to north-facing slopes. The drifts are deposited atop a layer with surface har. On Thursday, southerly winds will generate further snowdrift accumulations. Bonding between fresh drifts and the old snowpack is insufficient.

On Thursday, widespread sunshine in the Styrian Alps. Widns will be strong in the morning, lighter in the afternoon. Temperatures will rise, visibility in the dry air will be outstanding. At 2000 m: from -9 degrees on the Koralpe to -6 degrees in the Totes Gebirge.

No significant change in avalanche danger levels is expected.