Hochschwab Mountains

Moderate avalanche danger at high altitudes due to fresh snowdrift accumulations

On Monday in the Northern Alps, some cloud cover but no snowfall. As of midday, sunshine will prevail. On the southern flank of the Alps, sunshine from early morning. A strong-to-stormy NW wind will be blowing, esp. on the eastern rim of the Alps. In afternoon, the wind will slacken off, shift to southwesterly. At 2000 m: rising from -6 to -2 degrees.

Tuesday will bring mild but windy weather to Styria. Winds from the south will be stormy, the sun only slightly hampered by high-altitude clouds. The snowdrift problem will recede.

Moderate avalanche danger at high altitudes due to fresh snowdrift accumulations

Avalanche danger above the treeline is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. Fresh snowdrift accumulations have been deposited in extended E-facing terrain esp. behind discontinuities and in entries to gullies and bowls, they can be triggered by 1 person. Also on steep north-facing slopes there are still weak layers which can easily be triggered, slab avalanches can be medium-sized. Beware daytime rise in temperatures.

The fundament is isotherm up to high altitudes, is often losing its attachment to the ground. Atop of it lie deposited on N/E/S facing slopes fresh snowdrift accumulations. Bonding is often poor. Weak layers inside the drifts, like graupel and fresh snow crystals, are possible. In addition, higher temperatures are destabilizing the snowpack.