Hochschwab Mountains

Moderate avalanche danger above the timberline - Heed daytime danger cycle of wet-snow avalanche activity

Moderate avalanche danger above the timberline - Heed daytime danger cycle of wet-snow avalanche activity

Avalanche danger above the treeline is MODERATE, below that altitude danger is LOW. The snowdrifts have been able to settle and stabilize. On shady high-altitude slopes, particularly the entries into gullies and bowls and behind abrupt discontinuities in the terrain have snowdrift masses which in isolated cases can trigger by minimum additional loading. Avalanches can grow to medium size. Due to the soaring temperatures, noticeably increase in wet-snow avalanches can be expected. Wet loose-snow avalaches and slab avalanches can be expected particularly on freshly snowed slopes. Below the treeline, hardly any fresh snow was deposited. but in gullies which have not yet discharged small-to-medium set-snow avalanches can still release. On steep grass-covered slopes the glide-snow activity is increasing, glide-cracks should be seen as indicators of imminent danger and be circumvented.

In general, the old snowpack is quite stable and melt-freeze encrusted up to high altitudes, at ground level it is moist. Due to noticeably rising temperatures the snowpack swiftly becomes moist. Weak layers inside the older snowdrift accumulations forfeit stability through their initial moistening. At low altitudes there is, at best, a fragmented snowpack.

On Friday it will be noticeably warmer in the mountains, mildest in the northwest. At 2000 m: 10 degrees at midday, elsewhere the temperatures will rise to 3-7 degrees at this altitude. Sunshine and high-altitude cirrus clouds. Winds will be light to moderate, brisk in the Hochschwab region, from southerly directions. Also on Saturday, sunny and unperturbed conditions will continue. Often cloudless skies, high-altitude clouds will not appear before afternoon. Visibility will be outstanding. Winds will be light to moderate from SW to SE. At 2000 m: 5 degrees.

It will remain mild, wet-snow avalanche activity will abide.