Hochschwab Mountains

Snowdrifts at high altitudes and increasing wet-snow problem

Snowdrifts at high altitudes and increasing wet-snow problem

Avalanche danger above 1800m is moderate. Below that altitude danger is low, but rises to Level 2 (moderate) during the course of the day. At high altitudes the danger zones, which occur especially in N to SE aspects, are caused by instable drifts. During the course of the day, increasingly frequent naturally triggered loose-snow avalanches occur at all altitudes on extremely steep rocky slopes. Also, wet slabs (both naturally triggered and triggered by skiers) and glide-snow avalanches are possible.

The snowpack fundament is isotherm and often moist up to over 2000 m, but largely stable. Due to nocturnal outgoing longwave radiation it was able to regain some firmness. At high altitudes the snowdrifts are still instable, but due to warmth the settling and stabilizing is proceeding apace. Beneath the fresh snow from the weekend there are still weak laers which can be activated by the rising water content inside the snowpack.

On Tuesday lots of sunshine, only isolated high-altitude clouds, superb visibility, low air moisture. Winds will be light from W/SW directions, temperatures will rise further. At 2000 m: +8 degrees.

Lots of sun, further rising temperatures, light southerly winds on Wednesday. The snowpack is moist up to high altitudes and the slopes are becoming bare.