Hochschwab Mountains

Easterly winds generated snowdrifts on west-facing slopes.

Easterly winds generated snowdrifts on west-facing slopes.

Avalanche danger from Dachstein over Totes Gebirge to Hochschwab is considerable above the treeline. Below the treeline danger is moderate. Danger zones occur near to and distant from ridgelines in W/N/E facing terrain. A slab avalanche can be triggered even by minimum additional loading. Caution urged towards fresh cornices, they are instable. As a result of higher temperatures, wet snowslides can be expected at low altitudes.

In the last 24 hours, strong-to-stormy easterly winds have transported the snow to west-facing slopes. Snowdrifts were deposited atop unfavorably layer snowpack surfaces. On sunny slopes the old snowpack is generally hardened. The cold drifts are poorly bonded with the old snowpack which lies beneath them.

A low over Italy is scooping moist air masses into Styria. Weather conditions are inhospitable. During the night, a bit of snowfall, snowfall level will fluctuate between 500 and 900 m. On Tuesday widespread snowfall on the southern flank of the Alps. In the northern regions snowfall will soon taper off, but fog and clouds will persist until sundown. Moderate to brisk NE winds (30-50 km/hr). At 2000 m, -3 degrees. Up to 10-20 cm of fresh snow is expected, focus in the southern Niedere Tauern. On Wednesday, sunny weather will reign.

No significant change in avalanche danger levels is anticipated. Due to higher temperatures, avalanche danger levels are expected to diminish somewhat.