Hochschwab Mountains

Caution urged towards older and fresher snowdrifts

Caution urged towards older and fresher snowdrifts

Main danger: older and fresher snowdrifts. Danger zones occur mainly on N/E/S facing wind-loaded slopes and, in particular, behind protruberances and at entry points into gullies and bowls, where slab avalanches can be triggered by large addtional loading, in isolated cases also by minimum additional loading (1 person). On smooth grassy slopes naturally triggered glide-snow avalanches are possible, in isolated cases they can endanger exposed transportation routes. Zones below glide cracks should be avoided.

The snowpack base is melt-freeze encrusted and compact due to warm phases and rain impact. Atop of it, up to 50 cm of fresh snow was deposited, first without much wind, later with strong-to-stormy southerly winds, transporting the snow and depositing new drifts on N/E/S facing slopes. On sunny slopes the snowpack has been able to settle increasingly and become melt-freeze encrusted, shady slopes have preserved their weak layers both inside the snowpack at in transitions to the old fundament. Over steep grassy slopes the snowpack is still gliding.

A low over central Italy and another low over Germany are sending moist/cold air masses to Styria. On Tuesday night some fresh snowfall is anticipated throughout Styria. In the course of the day on Wednesday the precipitation will temporarily stop, than starting at midday, particularly between Dachstein and Ennstal Alps, recommence. Only minor amounts are expected. Skies will remain gray, clouds will disperse only in the western rimline ranges during the afternoon. The NW winds will be blowing at moderate strength, at storm strength east of the Hochschwab. Temperatures at midday at 2000 m: -7 degrees; at 1500 m: -3 degrees. Also on Thursday, the northern barrier cloud regions will have heavy cloud cover, a bit of minor snowfall is possible. Further to the south, sunshine is expected. On Friday, markedly higher temperatures.

No significant change to start with. The cold is preserving the potential weak laysers. Only as temperatures rise will the situation calm.