Hochschwab Mountains

Trigger-sensitive snowdrifts at high altitudes, increasing wet-snow activity during the day

Trigger-sensitive snowdrifts at high altitudes, increasing wet-snow activity during the day

Above the treeline avalanche danger is considerate. Danger zones occur with the freshly generated snowdrift accumulations, esp. in extended NE/SE facing terrain, where medium-sized slab avalanches can be triggered. Trigger-sensitivity will decrease during the daytime. Solar radiation and higher temperatures make increasingly frequent naturally triggered loose-snow avalanches expected on very steep sunny slopes. In very steep grassy terrain, esp. on sunny slopes, glide-snow avalanches can be expected. Avoid zones below glide cracks.

The trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations atop melt-freeze encrusted surfaces are beginning to settle and ease. However, there are still weak layers inside the drifts (soft snow, graupel) as well as faceted crystals in transitions to the old snowpack. Solar radiation and higher temperatures will cause the snowpack to forfeit its firmness, more naturally triggered loose-snow avalanches will be the result. The moistnesss of the snowpack continues to spread higher. Esp. on sunny slopes the snowpack can glide downwards over the ground.

The high-pressure front will bring much milder air masses to the Eastern Alps. A sunny day lies ahead, only a few harmless clouds and light-to-moderate NW winds. At 2000 m: +5 degrees at midday. The zero-degree level will ascend to nearly 3000 m.

The effects of the high-pressure front will persist. Mild. The snowpack will settle further. Loose-snow and glide-snow avalanches will increase in frequency.