Hochschwab Mountains

MODERATE avalanche danger at high altitude. HEED shady snowdrift masses and weak layers in old snowpack. Increasingly frequent glide-snow avalanches on sunny slopes.

MODERATE avalanche danger at high altitude. HEED shady snowdrift masses and weak layers in old snowpack. Increasingly frequent glide-snow avalanches on sunny slopes.

Above 1800 m avalanche danger is MODERATE, below that altitude danger is LOW. Avalanche prone locations are found on shady slopes, in transitions from shallow to deep snow, in wind-loaded gullies and bowls and behind protruberances. Drifted masses can be triggered often by minimum additional loading, in isolated cases they can fracture to deeper down weak layers and grow to medium-to-large size. On sunny grass-covered slopes, increasingly frequent glide-snow avalanches can be expected. Glide cracks should be seen as red flags. In steep rough and rocky terrain, increasingly frequent moist loose-snow slides can be expected during the day.

On sunny slopes the snowpack surface usually has a melt-freeze crust capable of bearing loads which then forfeits its firmness during the day. Beneath it is a well consolidated snowpack. On shady slopes there are some snowdrift accumulations which are deposited atop a soft snowpack surface or a wind-crust. In addition, there are weak layer embedded inside the snowpack. In low-altitude exposed zones and forested areas on shady slopes the snowpack surface is often soft or even powdery. On sunny steep grass-covered slopes fishbones (glide cracks) have formed. In steep rough and rocky terrain the snowpack surface can forfeit firmness during the daytime due to solar radiation.

Monday will be sunny, outstanding visibility. Winds will be moderate to brisk from west to sough. At 2000 m: 0 degrees at midday. Towards evening, clouds will move in from the southwest.

On Tuesday, snowfall and winds from the northwest. At high altitudes, temperatures will drop. Increasing avalanche danger amid stormy conditions.