Hochschwab Mountains

Low avalanche danger – Wet snow problem and small snowdrifts at high altitudes

The weekend will be characterized by variable April weather. On Saturday, the peaks will often be shrouded in fog, visibility will be poor. The snowfall level will be at 2000 m, brief showers cannot be ruled out. Some southern foehn wind will disperse the clouds somewhat during the afternoon. Temperatures will rise at all altitudes. At 2000 m: +1 to +3 degrees. On Sunday, the SW foehn will intensify, thunderstorm-like showers can develop in the Northern Alps during the afternoon. It will remain mild.

The wet-snow problem will dominate over the weekend and be the main danger at the beginning of next week.

Low avalanche danger – Wet snow problem and small snowdrifts at high altitudes

Avalanche danger is predominantly low. In steep terrain, naturally triggered wet-snow avalanches cannot be ruled out during the course of the day. In addition, naturally triggered glide-snow avalanches are possible on steep slopes over smooth ground in regions where there is still much snow. At high altitudes near ridgelines in NE aspects, isolated fresh snowdrift patches can be triggered.

A low over the Adriatic Sea brought some rain up to 1900 m on Friday (except for NW regions), above that altitude some fresh snow, with varyingly strong wind impact. The fresh snow/drifts were deposited atop a moist, but superficially melt-freeze encrusted old snowpack, bonding is often inadequate. The old snowpack is generally compact, isotherm up to high altitudes and moist. Rainfall, warmth and solar radiation heighten the loss of firmness of the snowpack.