Hochschwab Mountains

Considerable avalanche danger due to fresh snowdrifts above treeline. Also: beware glide-snow activity.

Considerable avalanche danger due to fresh snowdrifts above treeline. Also: beware glide-snow activity.

Above the timberline considerable avalanche danger due to snowdrift accumulations threatens. Danger zones are maining on E/S facing slopes, but snowdrifts will also form on north-facing slopes during the day, creating new danger zones. On wind-loaded slopes and especially behind protruberances and at entry points ito gullies and bowls, slab avalanches can be triggered even by one person. On smooth grassy slopes, naturally triggered glide-snow avalanches are possible which, in isolated cases, can place exposed transportation routes at risk. Zones below glide cracks should be avoided.

The snowpack base is melt-freeze encrusted and compact due to warm phases and rain impact. Atop of it on Saturday, up to 50 cm of fresh snow was deposited, first without much wind, latere with strong-to-stormy NW winds, transporting the snow and depositing new drifts on E/S facing slopes. Starting on Monday, southerly winds will generate new snowdrift accumulations on north-facing slopes. Weak layers inside the fresh snow have been preserved by the cold. Furthermore, in transitions from the warm snowpack base to the cold fresh snow/drifts, a weak layer can form. On steep grassy slopes the snowpack is still gliding.

On Monday a warm front will bring higher temperatures plus compact, medium-altitude cloud cover. Summits are expected to remain in the clear, not much sunshine is expected. Winds will shift to southwesterly and intensify, esp. in the eastern mountain ranges. At 2000 m: measurably rising temperatures in the Northern Alps, reaching -2 degrees. In the southern ranges: -6 degrees at 2000 m.

On Tuesday morning, some sunshine, but clouds will move in during the afternoon from the southwest and in the Upper Murtal and Koralpe light snowfall will set in. Weak laysers in the fresh snow will deteriorate as the snow settles, avalanche danger levels decrease slowly. As of Wednesday the snowdrift problem could intensify again due to fresh snowfall south of the Main Alpine Ridge.