Hochschwab Mountains

Low avalanche danger, still isolated avalanche prone locations in shady zones

Low avalanche danger, still isolated avalanche prone locations in shady zones

In the eastern sector of the Northern Alps, moderate danger prevails, due to fresh, brittle snowdrifts which since Monday have been deposited on steep south-facing slopes, particularly in ridgeline terrain down to the treeline. A slab behind protruberances and at entries into gullies and bowls can generally be triggered by minimum additional loading. A cautious route selection can avoid the avalanche prone locations. The loose powder cannot bond well with the melt-freeze crusts and icy layer beneath it, thus, there is high risk of falling on very steep slopes.

Over the last few days the powdery snow on north-facing slopes and some fresh snow have been transported by northerly winds. In leeward terrain small snowdrifts have accumulated, some deposited atop surface hoar or faceted crystals, and therefore instable. Elsewhere the snowpack on sunny slopes is well consolidated. On shady slopes there is powder which blankets older snowdrift accumulations which themselves lie atop melt-freeze crusts and faceted crystals. The faceted layers are unlikely to trigger. Beneath them is a compact old snowpack. Summit zones are often windblown, icy or have only a shallow layer of snow.

A pronounced high-pressure front over Central Europe is the force behind our weather. Styria lies at its eastern edge, thus intermediate-altitude clouds can be expected in the rimline ranges, these will disperse in the course of the morning. From Hochschwab eastwards and in the region of the Styrian rimline ranges, brisk NE winds, midday temperatures will reach -7 degrees at midday, at 1500 m -4 degrees. Less wind and milder in the other Styrian massifs: at 2000 m, -2 degrees; at 1500 m, +2 degrees.Friday will be quite sunny, but gusty SE winds will arise, temperatures will recede (except in Totes Gebirge, Dachstein and Schladminger Tauern).

Avalanche danger is expected to remain unchanged.