Hochschwab Mountains

Increasing wet snow problem due the course of the day

Increasing wet snow problem due the course of the day

The avalanche danger is low in the morning but increases to moderate during the course of the day. Danger of small to medium sized wet loose-Snow avalanches on steep sunny slopes due to warming and radiation. These can trigger spontaneously or by individuals. On steep grassy or forest slopes gliding snow avalanches can trigger spontaneously. Slab avalanches are possible in some places in shady steep slopes in high altitudes.

Due to the mild temperatures and the strong radiation the snow cover could settle. During the night stable surface hoar is forming which will quickly soften during the day on sunny slopes. Partially the softening is limited due to strong winds. The snow cover is moist up to high altitudes and gets even more moist looses it’s strength and bonding. The whole snow cover could begin to glide especially on bare soils. Weak layers which are prone to triggering are only found in high altitudes on shady slopes within the old snow cover (Graupel, soft crystals).

After a clear night, predominately sunny mountain weather is called for Saturday morning and northwesterly winds are increasing. In the afternoon thick clouds are coming from the north and some unproductive showers in the Northern Alps at latest in the evening are to expect. Temperatures in 2.000 m at noon are around +1 to +6 degrees and in 1.500 m +6 to +8 degrees.

Saturday night the temperature will drop with 10-15 degrees but without precipitation. The wet snow problem is decreasing due to the cooling but there will be persistent weak layers in high altitudes.