Hochschwab Mountains

Considerable avalanche danger, large-sized avalanches possible

Considerable avalanche danger, large-sized avalanches possible

Avalanche danger down to intermediate altitudes is considerable, below that altitude danger is moderate. Snowdrifts are the cause of danger zones at high altitudes, they extend down to sparsely wooded zones, esp. in N/E/S aspects. On wind-loaded slopes and in drifted clearances, as well as in general behind protruberances, slabs can be triggered. Caution urged towards freshly formed cornices - they are instable. At intermediate and low altitudes the early morning warmth can cause naturally triggered wet-snow and glide-snow avalanches on sunny slopes, in isolated cases they can endanger exposed transportation routes.

In the Northern Alps there was up to 60 cm of fresh snow registered on Monday. The fresh snow was transported by stormy NW winds, deposited in leeward zones, in forests. These masses lie mostly atop a hardened old snowpack surface, only in shady zones is the snowpack still soft, often powdery. Bonding of fresh drifts to the surface below them is poor on shady sloes. Also weak layers exist inside the old snowpack. On south-facing slopes bonding is good but there are weak layers inside the fresh drifts (loose-snow). Exposed zones are windblown and icy. On south-facing slopes the snowpack is already moist and destabilizes during the course of the day.

On Wednesday, generally sunny weather will prevail. In the morning between Gurktal Alps and Wechsel region there will be some clouds, but they will disperse over midday. Generally sunny in the afternoon. Winds have eased but will still be brisk from the west (over 50 km/hr) - especially in the Wechsel region where 70 km/hr is possible. Milder. At 2000 m: 4 degrees. The zero-degree level will ascend to 3000 m.

Due to warmth and solar radiation, the snowpack will gradually stabilize. The wet snow problem persists.