Hochschwab Mountains

Snowdrift accumulations atop instable layers

Snowdrift accumulations atop instable layers

Avalanche danger above the treeline is moderate. Main problem: snowdrifts in all aspects, but esp. on east and south-facing slopes. Danger zones near ridges, at entries into gullies and bowls, behind discontinuities. Instable snowdrifts have accumulated in exposed zones, triggerable as small-to-medium slab avalanches even by minimum additional loading. Freshly generated cornices are instable, easily triggered. On shady steep high-altitude slopes, also large avalanches can be triggered (start of a persistent weak layer problem). Windblown surfaces are often icy and hard, acute danger of falling.

Snowdrift accumulations occur not only near ridges, also on E/S facing slopes. Faceted layers and surface hoar clinging to a melt-freeze crust are potential weak layers. Potential weak layers are faceted crystals and surface hoar atop a melt-freeze crust. The base is generally compact and without marked layers, only on steep shady slopes at high altitudes is expansively metamorphosed snow weakening the fundament.

On Wednesday clouds will dominate initially, but visibility will be adequate, clouds later dispersing, some sunshine. The SW winds will intensify, reach storm strength in the southern and eastern ranges, light snow showers are possible. Temperatures rising measurably. At 2000 m: rising to +4 degrees north of the Main Alpine Ridge and in the eastern ranges; only -2 degrees in the SW ranges.

On Wednesday night, a bit of snowfall (rainfall lower down). On Thursday, dry and variably cloudy. Avalanche danger will remain low.