Hochschwab Mountains

Fresh snowdrift accumulations: increasing avalanche danger

Fresh snowdrift accumulations: increasing avalanche danger

New snow and storm winds are generating fresh, instable snowdrift accumulations on south-facing slopes. Avalanche prone locations where avalanches can be triggered even by minimum additional loading are located on leeward slopes behind protruberances, on steep slopes, and at entries into gullies and bowls. At high altitudes, including in northern aspects on shady slopes and in gullies, slab avalanches can be triggered (persistent weak layer). There is also a danger of alling on the icy surfaces.

At low altitudes the snowpack is moist and, depending on altitude, covered with a melt-freeze crusts which is often capable of bearing loads. At high altitudes the surface is iced over, hardened or wind-compacted. The fundament beneath that is compact by and large, and evidences hardly any weak layers. Above 2000 m on shady slopes the snowpack is metamorphosing expansively, the snowpack consists of more and more faceted crystals, it is forfeiting its firmness and losing its base. Through storm winds and new snow on Monday, fresh snowdrifts will be generated on leeward slopes. Weak layers can occur both inside the fresh snow and in transitions to the old snow.

On Monday a cold front will move in from the northeast, snowfall is expected on the northern flank of the Alps in early morning hours, stormy NW winds will be blowing later on. In the Mürzsteger Alps, Hochschwab region and the Eisenerz Alps, up to 15 cm of new snow is anticipated; in the Ennstal Alps, Totes Gebirge, Dachstein region and northern Niedere  Tauern 5-10 cm. In the southern Niedere Tauern the weather will be better, some sunshine is expected and not much new snow is anticipated. At 2000 m: temperatures at -9 degrees. Winds will be quite stormy from the northwest, only in Totes Gebirge and Dachstein regions will winds be lighter. On Monday weather conditions will improve, it will turn sunny but remain cold.

Avalanche danger is not expected to change significantly.