Hochschwab Mountains

Low avalanche danger. Naturally triggered loose-snow avalanches require alertness. Isolated snowdrifts only at high altitudes.

Low avalanche danger. Naturally triggered loose-snow avalanches require alertness. Isolated snowdrifts only at high altitudes.

Avalanche danger: low. Main danger: wet loose-snow avalanches in steep rocky terrain at high altitude in N/E aspects in ridgeline terrain, gullies where shallow snowdrifts have been generated and danger of falls outweighs that of being buried in snow. On steep slopes where the ground smooth, isolated glide-snow avalanches possible. Risks of falling outweigh being buried in snow.

Atop a mostly compact snowpack surface, up to 20 cm of fresh snow was registered. Depending on wind impact, small fresh bonded snowdrift patches were generated. Bonding of the fresh snow to the old snowpack is generally good, in isolated cases prone to triggering at high altitudes. As a result of solar radiation and daytime warming, the snow will become instable and can trigger naturally. The old snowpack is mostly compact and isotherm up to high altitudes.

In the Eastern Alps, weak air pressure contrasts prevail. Saturday will have high-altitudes clouds until past midday, be mostly sunny, the peaks free. In the afternoon, cloud cover will increase from the west, some precipitation is possible in Schladminger Tauern, Dachstein and Totes Gebirge. Snowfall level at 2000 m. In eastern regions and along the rimline ranges it will be dry and mostly sunny. Winds will be light from the south. At 2000 m: +4 degrees; at 1500 m: +8 degrees. The First of May in the western part of the Northern Alps will have fog and clouds, some rainfall or snowfall. The snowfall level will lie between 1500 and 1800 m. In the other massifs, also cloud cover will dominate, although visibility should be adequate in the morning. In the afternoon, clouds will descend, brief showers are possible. Light easterly winds, somewhat cooler. Midday temperature at 2000 m: 0 degrees; at 1500 m: +5 degrees. At the beginning of next week, the instable weather conditions are expected to persist.

Avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly.