Hochschwab Mountains

Moderate danger at high altitude

Moderate danger at high altitude

At higher altitudes the avalanche danger is moderate. Due to wind impact plus some fresh snow in the northern ranges, fresh drifts have accumulated, deposited mostly on N/E/S facing slopes, in ridgeline terrain, gullies, bowls. In places an avalanche can be triggered even by the weight of one sole skier, unleashing a slab. In the regions where recent snowfall has been heaviest the fresh layer could also trigger naturally due to solar radiation.

In the northern barrier cloud regions there was 10-15 cm of fresh snow registered, less in the southern parts and in the southern massifs there was no fresh snow. Due to wind impact the snow was transported, formed new accumulations of drifts, covering the hoar and making transitions to the old snowpack problematic. The old snowpack itself has been weakened by faceted crystals.

In the northern barrier cloud regions, residual cloud will persist on Tuesday, the clouds will disperse slowly. In the other massifs conditions will be better. Strong winds will be blowing from north to northeast. Temperature at 1500 m: -8 degrees; at 2000 m: -11 degrees, still wintery.

Wednesday will be sunny far and wide. Cloudbanks will be few and harmless. Strong northerly winds. Temperature: -8 degrees. Milder weather is expected to follow so that the snowpack will be able to settle. Avalanche danger will thereafter decrease.