Hochschwab Mountains

Snowdrifts at high altitudes, wet-snow/glide-snow at intermediate altitudes: caution

From Turrach to Niedere Tauern, about 20 cm of fresh snow is anticipated above 1500 m, rainfall lower down. The fresh snow will be transported by moderate-strength NW winds, deposited behind protruberances and on SE facing slopes, the snowdrift patches will lie atop a melt-freeze encrusted snowpack surface or older snowdrifts. Inside the old snowpack there are still graupel deposits evident, also faceted crystals, constituting weak layers. With the rain impact, the snowpack at low altitudes will get wetter, forfeit its firmness.

On Wednesday clouds will dominate, the summits will often be veiled in fog. Rainfall/snowfall, although with interims w/o precipitation in the Northern Alps. Snowfall level in the southern regions 1500 m, in the Northern Alps 1300 m. overall between Turrach and Koralpe above the snowfall level, 10-20 cm anticipated, in the Niedere Tauern up to 30 cm, in the other regions, less. Moderate-strength NW winds will gradually bring us colder air masses. At 2000 m: -1 degree in early morning, -4 degrees in the evening.

On Thursday, barrier clouds along the Northern Alps and Niedere Tauern, light snowfall. On the southern flank of the Alps clouds will disperse and some sunshine is expected. Stormy NW winds will cause temperatures to drop. At 2000 m: -6 to -4 degrees. As temperatures descend the wet-snow problem will gradually recede.

Snowdrifts at high altitudes, wet-snow/glide-snow at intermediate altitudes: caution

Avalanche danger widespread is moderate, but main danger varies depending on altitude. At high altitudes, fresh snowdrifts are accumulating esp. on S/E facing slopes, danger zones are difficult to recognize. A slab avalanche can be triggered by 1 person. At low and intermediate altitudes, increasingly frequent naturally triggered wet-snow and loose-snow avalanches can be expected on very steep slopes in all aspects. On steep grass-covered slopes or smooth rocks, further glide-snow avalanches can be expected, thus, avoid zones below glide cracks.