Hochschwab Mountains

Low avalanche danger - isolated danger zones from snowdrifts

Low avalanche danger - isolated danger zones from snowdrifts

Avalanche danger is low. Isolated avalanche prone locations due to snowdrift accumulations are found esp. on north and east-facing slopes where small-to-medium slab avalanches can be triggered even by large additional loading. The snowdrift accumulations are located in gullies and bowls, as well as behind abrupt discontinuities in the terrain.

The snowpack was able to settle adequately. An older snowdrift layer is usually deposited atop a melt-freeze crust, inside the drifted layer are soft layer which are weak, esp. in N/E aspects. Inside the snowdrifts are soft layers which are weak. The ground-level fundament is moist up to high altitudes, often powdery on the surface.

Sunday will be colder, partly windy. North of the Main Alpine Ridge, dense clouds will accumulate, minor snowfall is possible in the early part of the day. The southern massifs will have better weather, northerly foehn wind will prevail plus sunshine. From north to south at 1500 m: -4 to +1 degree; at 2000 m: -8 degrees. Brisk to strong NW winds.

On Monday, heavily overcast, cold (-6 degrees at 2000 m). Regional snowfall, most in the morning from Stub- and Gleinalpe to Semmering. Winds will shift to southwesterly. New danger zones will be created from freshly generated snowdrift accumulations.