Fischbach Alps East, Wechsel

Low danger- shallow snowdrift patches above the timberline

Low danger- shallow snowdrift patches above the timberline

Avalanche danger is LOW. Thin snowdrift patches are being generated on N/E/S facing slopes above the treeline, esp. behind abrupt discontinuities in the terrain and in gullies and bowls. They can trigger a small slab avalanche.

Over the last few days the snowpack has become moist up to high altitudes. In general, the old snowpack is quite stable. Fresh snowdrifts are bonding well with the existing moist snowpack, trigger-sensitive weak layers still can exist inside the snowpack however. At intermediate altitudes the snowpack is thoroughly wet but is regaining firmness as the temperatures drop, and forming a melt-freeze crust. At low altitudes the snowpack is fragmented at best. In the Graz mountains there is little snow on the ground.

On Tuesday night the snowfall level will descend down to low lying areas. In the northern barrier cloud zones 5-10 cm of fresh snowfall is expected, also more between Dachstine and Totes Gebirge, elsewhere the amounts will be minor. On Wednesday, stong-to-stormy NW winds will bring back late-winter weather conditions. In early morning, heavy cloud and a few snow showers, later on the clouds will disperse from the west, last snowfall at most in the Northern Alps. Low temperatures everywhere. At 2000 m: -8 degrees; gusts will reach 40-80 km/hr, and the air will feel subjectively far colder. On Thursday, a few snow showers are possible in the Northern Alps. In the southern massifs the day will start with sunshine. Later on, pleasant conditions everywhere. Rising temperatures. At 2000 m: -5 degrees on the Dachstein and -7 degrees in the Mürzsteger Alps in the afternoon.

Little change expected in avalanche danger levels