Fischbach Alps East, Wechsel

Low avalanche danger, small fresh snowdrift patches

Low avalanche danger, small fresh snowdrift patches

Avalanche danger is generally low. Danger zones on N/E facing slopes near ridges and behind discontinuities in the terrain, thin snowdrift patches have formed which can be triggered as slab avalanches in isolated cases.The dangers of falling outweigh those of being buried in snow masses.

Snowdrift accumulations are relatively small, but poorly bonded esp. on N/E facing slopes. Faceted layers and surface hoar clinging to a melt-freeze crust are potential weak layers. The old snowpack beneath them is compact, without marked weak layers. The snowpack surface is highly diverse, with alternating wind crusts, eroded crusts and hardened, icy surfaces. In some wooded areas the fresh drifts resemble powder.

On Thursday night temperatures will plummet and NW winds will intensify. On Thursday evening snowfall will set in in Upper Styria, the snowfall level drop swiftly to the valley floor. During the night the focal point of precipitation will move to the south, and by Friday midday snowfall everywhere will end. Gray, cloudy skies all day on Friday. In the valleys 5 cm, in the mountains up to 20 cm of fresh snow is expected. In Totes Gebirge/Dachstein region, in Hochschwab region, on Koralm and in the Gurktal Alps, up to 20 cm of fresh snow is possible. At 2000 m at midday: -14 degrees, at 1500 m: -10 degrees, a little milder in the south. Winds will be stormy in the eastern peaks, lesser in the west.

On Saturday, splended sunshine once again, cloudless skies, hardly any wind, but cold. At 2000 m: -9 degrees, at 1500 m: -6 degrees. Main problem: snowdrift accumulations.