Hochschwab Mountains

Trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations at high altitudes

Trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations at high altitudes

Above the timberline, moderate danger prevails, below that altitude danger is low. Main problem: fresh snowdrifts, near ridgelines and behind abrupt discontinuities in the terrain, which can be triggered even by minimum additional loading. A slab on shady slopes can fracture down to more deeply embedded layers inside the snowpack and attain medium size. Caution urged particularly at entries into gullies and bowls above 2000 m, especially on north-facing slopes.

Over the last 48 hours in Totes Gebirge there has been up to 50 cm of fresh snow registered; in Niedere Tauern, 20-30 cm; in Hochschwab up to 40 cm. The fresh snow was transported by stormy NW winds, depositing drifts in extended east-facing terrain, particularly near ridgelines and behind abrupt discontinuities in the terrain, often poorly bonded with the melt-freeze encrusted snowpack beneath them. Also, inside the old snowpack fundament on shady north-facing slopes there are weak layers of faceted crystals; particularly above 2200 m this layer is a potential weak layer. Due to daytime warmth on Wednesday, the brittle drifts up to 2200 m will be able to settle somewhat.

Wednesday: cloud cover and a warm front will move in from the west, in the morning there could be a small amount of snowfall north of the Main Alpine Ridge (or rainfall). In the afternoon, clouds will also move into the southern and furthermost eastern regions, but it will remain dry and predominantly sunny. At all altitudes temperatures will rise. At 2000 m: 0 degrees. On Wednesday night, temperatures will drop as the next cold front approaches, along with snow showers. The cold front will bring 10-15 cm of fresh snow in the northern barrier cloud regions on Wednesday night.

Moderate danger of slab avalanches will persist at high altitudes.