Hochschwab Mountains

Circumvent zones below glide cracks. Assess high-altitude snowdrifts with caution.

Circumvent zones below glide cracks. Assess high-altitude snowdrifts with caution.

Naturally trriggered glide-snow avalanches are still the main danger, esp. on steep slopes in all aspects with smooth ground (grass, rocks). Depending on snow depths the fractures can be medium-sized, but at low altitudes the runout zones remain small. Open glide cracks are indicators of potential danger, should be circumvented. Since New Year’s Day fresh snowdrift accumulations have continually been generated. Danger zones occur above the timberline esp. in extended east-facing aspects behind discontinuities in terrain transitions, triggerable even by 1 person as a small slab avalanche. In encrusted or icy steep terrain, acute danger of falling. Mostly thin fresh snow and drifts are poorly bonded.

Up to 25 cm of fresh snow fell during the night of New Year’s Eve, most from #Turrach over Zirbitz to Koralpe, much less in Tauern and Northern Alps. Storm westerly winds formed thin drifts, bonding poorly with the encrusted old snowpack surface which is compact and without marked weak layers (a thick melt-freeze crust capable of bearing loads), riddled with water seepage channels, highly unpleasant for skiers. The snowpack is gliding downhill and cracking on its journey. The old snowpack is compact, no marked weak layers, riddled with water seepage channels. The snowpack is gliding downhill over smooth ground. Some fresh snowfall and drifts esp. on east-facing slopes, poorly bonded with the encrusted old snowpack surface. The snowpack continues to glide downhill over smooth ground.

On Friday a foehn-like SW airstream will form in high-altitude layers. After a pleasant morning it will arrive but remain temporarily free of precipitation. At 2000 m in northern Upper Styria: -2 degrees, at 1500 m: +1 degree. On the southern flank of the Alps, about 3 degrees milder. Moderate to brisk winds, strong gusts in the Koralpe region. By evening, initial precipitation will strike the southern barrier cloud regions, e.g. Turrach. On Saturday a low over the Gulf of Genua will bring rain and snow our way. On Sunday, very cold arctic air masses will reach us.

Avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly.