Hochschwab Mountains

Snowdrifts accumulations being deposited in all aspects

Snowdrifts accumulations being deposited in all aspects

From Hochschwab-Veitsch region, the Eisenerz Alps, Seckau Tauern as far as Glein- Stub- and Packalpe, avalanche danger is considerable above the timberline. Plateaus, crests and ridges have been windblown, fresh cornices have formed which are instable. Danger zones focus on slopes in all aspects where particularly near ridgelines, behind protruberances in the landscape, in gullies and bowls in areas distant from ridgelines, fresh snowdrift accumulations have been generated which can be triggered even by minimum additional loading.

The most recent round of cold snowfall on Thursday (10-30 cm) was transported on Friday by strong SW winds, deposited drifts on N/E slopes. As winds shift back to NW again starting tonight, new snowdrift accumulations will ge generated on Saturday, deposited on east-facing and south-facing slopes. Due to repeatedly shifting wind directions in recent days the layers of the snowpack have attained highly differing degrees of hardness. Particularly the softer layers which were generated in warm phases can now act as potential weak layers. The snowpack has not been able to settle, due to the low temperatures, thus the unfavourable layering persists.

The Eastern Alps lie in the range of influence of a NW air current. This will bring moist and slightly instable cold air masses to the northern flank of the Alps. On Saturday, heavy cloud will lodge against the northern flank of the Tauern, the higher peaks will be veiled in fog. Amid brisk to strong NW winds, repeated bouts of snowfall are possible. The southern flank of the Alps, on the other hand, are favoured as leeward slopes. It will remain free of precipitation, with sunshine and cloudy phases alternating. Also here: strong NW winds. Temperatures in the northern massifs will be -9 degrees at 2000 m; -5 degrees at 1500 m; -7 to -4 degrees in the southern regions. Also on Sunday, the NW weather will continue. In the northern barrier cloud regions, heavy cloud will dominate, only intermittent sunshine make itself felt. South of the Tauern and near the Styrian rimline ranges it will be quite sunny. But it will remain cold everywhere, and the NW winds will intensify somewhat.

No change in the current avalanche situation.