Hochschwab Mountains

As snowfall sets in, stormy winds will generate new snowdrift accumulations

As snowfall sets in, stormy winds will generate new snowdrift accumulations

The size of danger zones increases with ascending altitude. Above the treeline avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE. Particularly the protected zones of the terrain with little wind influence will have drifts deposited anew: gullies, bowls, behind protruberances.

Gale-strength winds have blown crests, ridges and plateaus bare of snow in all aspects. The deposited not-too-cold fresh snowdrifts are generally hard. With ascending altitude this snow becomes colder and graupel is found at intermediate layers. At low altitudes the snow is moist. The newly generated snowdrift accumulations are, initally at least, well bonded with the snowpack below them.

Driven by the storm-low named “Nadia” over the Baltic Sea, a westerly to northwesterly air current continues to determine the weather. On Monday a cold front will traverse Styria. After a brief quiet spell when snowfall will pause and winds ease, cloud cover will quickly move into the Tauern and the Northern Alps and it will begin to snow during the morning. The W/NW winds will intensify. Fresh snow: about 20 cm, up to 30 cm in Totes Gebirge. The southern flank of the Alps will have better conditions, but medium-high clouds will also move in, bringing brief snow showers. Temperatures at midday: at 2000 m: -8 degrees; at 1500 m: -5 degrees. Milder on the southern flank of the Alps: -5 and -1 degree.

On Monday night, a high-trough will reach the Eastern Alps. In its wake, a stormy NW air current will bring very moist air masses to the land, with abundant fresh snow in the northern barrier cloud regions. The avalanche danger levels will increase significantly.