Fischbach Alps East, Wechsel

At high altitudes, new drifts in E/S aspects, on shady slopes older trigger-sensitive drifts

At high altitudes, new drifts in E/S aspects, on shady slopes older trigger-sensitive drifts

Avalanche focus lies in the regions of northern Upper Styria where snowfall has been heaviest. But the fresh snowdrift accumulations on the southern flank of the Alps should not be ignored, even though the amounts of new snow were minor. Most of the drifts were deposited on E/S aspects, thus the danger is set at moderate. Even minimum additional loading can trigger avalanches. Particularly the transitions from shallow to deep snow require caution.

Since Saturday, snowdrifts have been deposited atop a hardened, often surface-hoar covered snowpack surface. Since Tuesday, intensifying NW winds have come up repeatedly. The old snowpack beneath the drifts was able to settle well, only at high altitudes are there faceted layers which weaken it. Otherwise the snowpack is generally wind-pressed or icy.

On Thursday the high-pressure front weather comes to an end. The edges of a warm front will cross Styria during the day, sunshine will be rare. Temperatures on the northern flank of the Alps at 2000 m: -1 degree; at 1500 m: +1 degree. Milder on the southern flank of the Alps: +1 and +4 degrees. Winds will be westerly, blowing at strong velocity, on Thursday night a cold front will bring stormy NW winds. Temperatures will drop measurably and in the Northern Alps and Tauern snowfall will set in. On Friday on the northern flank of the Alps, low lying cloud, precipitation all day long, the snowfall level at valley level. Further south the snowfall will be more seldom. From Gurktal Alps to the rimline ranges the northerly foehn wind can disperse the clouds somewhat.

Initially unchanged conditions. On Friday, measurably increasing avalanche danger.