Fischbach Alps East, Wechsel

Low avalanche danger. But caution urged towards small snowdrifts at high altitudes!

Low avalanche danger. But caution urged towards small snowdrifts at high altitudes!

Avalanche danger is generally low. Only above the treeline are there isolated danger zones in the form of shallow snowdrift accumulations, particularly at entries into steep gullies and directly behind protruberances in the terrain where small slab avalanches can be triggered.

Prior to the onset of winter on Friday, there was a cohesive area-wide snowpack only above about 1500 m. This snowpack fundament is marked by intermittent phases of higher temperatures and rainfall, making it moist at intermediate altitudes and melt-freeze encrusted at high altitudes, or at least riddled with such crusts. Surface hoar was formed on the surface in many places during the night of clear skies on Thursday. Atop this fundament, fresh snow deposited since Friday accompanied by storm-strength NW winds is leading to new shallow snowdrift patches being generated.

The Eastern Alps are caught in the grips of a powerful NW air current with northern barrier clouds. On Sunday, low-lying clouds will dominate, bringing snowfall on the northern flank of the Niedere Tauern and along the Northern Alps with only brief interims. The southern flank of the Alps will remain favored. Isolated snow showers could extend briefly to the south, but sunny weather is expected to dominate there. Winds in the mountains will often be stormy. Temperatures at midday at 2000 m: -10 degrees; at 1500 m: -6 degrees. On Monday the air current will shift to westerly, bringing in its train milder and drier weather.

Avalanche danger will remain low.