Fischbach Alps East, Wechsel

Beware of prone to triggering snow packs

Beware of prone to triggering snow packs

The avalanche risk is generally low. However, stormy westerly winds and some new fallen snow at higher altitudes have created isolated fresh snowdrift accumulations, which can be triggered as small slab avalanches by even a small additional load. This is especially the case behind exposed ridges and ridgelines as well as in gullies and bowls. The avalanche prone locations are generally easy to recognise. In most cases, the risk of entrainment and injury outweighs the risk of burial.

The existing snow cover, snowpack is characterised by the strong wind influence of the last few days. In places, fresh windslab snow was deposited on a crusted old snowpack under the influence of strong winds. In many places, a built-up transformed surface or older wind slab is covered. The connection to each other is poor. The composition and thickness of the snow cover, snowpack varies greatly in a small area. There is often insufficient old snowpack.

On New Year's Eve, clouds will predominate north of the main Alpine ridge and light to moderate snowfall is expected before midnight. A few showers may also spread across the Mur and Mürztal valleys into the Randgebirge, but there will be no significant amounts of new snow here. Mostly sunny mountain weather will prevail on New Year's Day. It will temporarily become milder at all altitudes. Temperatures at 2000 metres will be between -11 degrees in the morning and -4 degrees in the evening, and between -8 and -1 degrees at 1500 metres. Strong winds with gusts of around 80 km/h from the west.

It will be very cold again on Friday and next weekend with a fresh supply of cold air, and it will remain windy. However, there is unlikely to be any new fallen snow. Areas of drifting snow prone to triggering will remain the main problem for the time being.