Hochschwab Mountains

Low avalanche danger. Wet-snow problem and snowdrifts in the high peaks

Low avalanche danger. Wet-snow problem and snowdrifts in the high peaks

Low avalanche danger prevails by and large. At high altitudes the freshly generated snowdrift patches in NW aspects require alertness. They can be triggered as slab avalanches, mostly by large additional loading. At high altitudes there is increased water seepage into the snowpack, leading to small naturally triggered wet-snow avalanches. On steep grassy and rocky slopes, in addition, naturally triggered glide-snow avalanches can be expected. Take heed of glide cracks, they are red flags!

Above 1700 m, small amounts of fresh snow are expected which will be transported by brisk SE winds and form small snowdrift patches. These will be deposited atop a moist, superficially hard and encrusted old snowpack and bond inadequately with it. At low altitudes, more water seepage into the snowpack will destabilize it and lead slopes to become bare. In addition, the glide-snow layer at ground level is becoming more pronounced, can slide away naturally.

On Friday, skies will be gray and rainy, peaks will be shrouded in fog, repeated bouts of precipitation can occur all day long (snowfall level quite high: Dachstein and Totes Gebirge at 1800-2000m, elsewhere 1500-1700m). Moderate to brisk SE winds will be blowing. At 2000 m: 0 degrees. On Saturday, tenacious clouds will remain, sometimes with light precipitation. Temperatures will rise. At 2000 m: +4 degrees.

No significant change is expected in avalanche danger or the wet-snow situation.