Hochschwab Mountains

Fresh snowdrifts creating moderate avalanche danger above treeline

Fresh snowdrifts creating moderate avalanche danger above treeline

Avalanche danger above the treeline is moderate, at low altitudes danger is low. Danger zones are the snowdrift accumulations in extended eastern aspects where in some places behind discontinuities and on leeward slopes (also distant from ridges) slab avalanches can be triggered by one person. Windblown exposed surfaces are often hard and icy, acute danger of falling. In addition, isolated gliding snow activity and glide-snow avalanches can’t be excluded. Poor visibility and stormy conditions make assessment of avalanche danger on-site far more difficult.

Up to 20 cm of fresh snow and stormy NW winds have transported the snow and generated new snowdrifts. Bonding to the old snowpack deteriorates with ascending altitude. At lower altitudes the moistened snow is consolidating, a melt-freeze crust is forming. The fundament is still stable. On sunny slopes the snowpack is moist down to the ground and glides over smooth terrain.

On Wednesday night a cold front will pass thorugh, the snowfall level will descend to about 1200 m, NW winds will intensify and snowfall is expected in the northern barrier cloud regions and in Niedere Tauern (focal point: Dachstein region, Totes Gebirge and Schladminger, Wölzer Tauern with up to 30 cm). Poor visibility. Snowfall will taper off during the morning, in the eastern sector of the Northern Alps there will be some sunshine but it will remain stormy. South of Niedere Tauern, minor snowfall is expected during the night, the daytime hours will be mostly sunny. At 2000 m: -2 degrees in the south, -5 degrees in the north.

On Friday the next warm front will pass through bringing gray skies but only minor precipitation. The snowdrift problem will recede.