Hochschwab Mountains

Heed snowdrift accumulations above the treeline

Heed snowdrift accumulations above the treeline

From Hochschwab-Veitsch region, the Eisenerz Alps, Seckau Tauern as far as Glein- Stub- and Packalpe, avalanche danger is considerable above the timberline. Plateaus, crests and ridges have been windblown, fresh cornices have formed which are instable. Danger zones focus on slopes in N/E/S aspects on very steep slopes where particularly near ridgelines, behind protruberances in the landscape, in gullies and bowls in areas distant from ridgelines, fresh snowdrift accumulations have been generated which can be triggered even by minimum additional loading.

The most recent round of cold snowfall on Thursday (10-30 cm) was transported on Friday by strong SW winds, deposited drifts on N/E slopes. As winds shifted back to NW again, new snowdrift accumulations were generated on Saturday, deposited on east-facing and south-facing slopes. Due to repeatedly shifting wind directions in recent days the layers of the snowpack have attained highly differing degrees of hardness. Particularly the softer layers which were generated in warm phases can now act as potential weak layers. The snowpack has not been able to settle, due to the low temperatures, thus the unfavourable layering persists.

The Eastern Alps lie in the range of influence of a NW air current. On Sunday, minor snowfall is expected on the northern flank of the Alps from low lying clouds in the morning in particular. Further to the south, partly cloudy, free of precipitation, more frequent sunshine. Above the treeline in all mountain regions, a strong to storm-strength NW wind will be blowing. On the northern flank of the Alps, temperatures at midday at 2000 m will be -9 degrees, at 1500 m -6 degrees. In the southern massifs it will be milder: -6 to -4 degrees. On Sunday night cloud cover will move in, bringing a warm front. The summits will disappear in fog, frequent snowfall/rainfall is anticipated, less towards the south. Temperatures will rise noticeably, the snowfall level will rapidly ascend to far above 1000 m during the daytime.

As temperatures rise, the snowpack will slowly settle, danger of slab avalanches will diminish. Due to rainfall, on the other hand, the danger of glide-snow and wet-snow slides will temporarily increase.