Hochschwab Mountains

Naturally triggered avalanches on sunny slopes

Naturally triggered avalanches on sunny slopes

Avalanche danger below the treeline is low, above that altitude danger is moderate. Fresh snowfall from the weekend pllus strong-to-storm strength winds generated fresh snowdrift accumulations. Danger zones are found primarily on E/S facing slopes whre medium sized slab avalanches can be triggered even by minimum additional loading. Due to higher temperatures and solar radiation, naturally triggered medium sized avalanches are expected during the afternoon at latest, particularly on south-facing slopes. At intermediate altitudes also wet loose-snow avalanches are possible.

Due to the cold, the fresh snow has not yet been able to settle. In the Northern Alps and Niedere Tauern there is 10-30 cm of fresh snow lying atop a hardened melt-freeze crust. Bonding of the cold snow to the warm crust is poor. The ground-level layer is moist up to high altitudes.

In the Northern Alps, quite sunny right from the start, often cloudless skies. South of the Niedere Tauern and along the Styrian rimline ranges, tenacious clouds and fog, dispersing only slowly. Winds will be moderate from the northeast. Temperatures only slightly higher. At 2000 m: -6 degrees.

Weather on Wednesday: in the Northern Alps, light southerly winds, sunshine, good mountain weather. On the southern flank of the Tauern and along the rimline ranges, fog and clouds will persist, plus moderate southerly winds, slightly higher temperatures. At 2000 m: -5 degrees on Zirbitzkogel, -2 degrees on Grimming. Avalanche danger will recede.