Hochschwab Mountains

Loose-snow activity in extremely steep terrain, near ridgelines isolated snowdrift accumulations

Loose-snow activity in extremely steep terrain, near ridgelines isolated snowdrift accumulations

Main danger: naturally triggered (moist and dry-snow) loose-snow avalanches in extremely steep terrain which can release in all aspects during the course of the day and also be triggered by 1 person. Releases mostly small, large in high-altitude starting zones when snow along the plummet path is swept along. Danger of slab avalanches, on the other hand, has receded. Danger zones likeliest on ridgelines, steep gullies and bowls, mostly by large additional loading. On steep smooth slopes small (in isolated cases large) glide-snow avalanches can trigger naturally. Avoid zones below glide cracks.

The fresh fallen snow (70-100 cm in Dachstein Massif/Totes Gebirge, 30-50 cm from Niedere Tauern to Hochschwab) of the last few days lies deposited atop a compact snowpack base. The old snowpack is thoroughly moist, was able to consolidate through the lower temperatures this last week. The fresh snow is well bonded with the snowpack. Due to solar radiation, diffuse light and high air moisture the snowpack can forfeit its cohesion during the day and trigger loose-snow avalanches naturally. The snowdrift problem has receded.

As a result of a low pressure front over Italy, moist air masses are moving into southeastern Styria. On Monday night in the Styrian rimline range snowfall will set in and persist into the day on Tuesday, snowfall level initially at valley level, then ascending to 1000 m. Most of the snowfall (up to 40 cm) is anticipated in the eastern barrier cloud regions at high altitudes of the Koralm, in northern and western regions of Upper Styria they will be far less. At 2000 m: -6 degrees; at 1500 m: -3 degrees, rising to +3 degreres in afternoon. The easterly winds will be moderate.

The low will move towards Slovakia, and with it the focus of precipitation will move to the northern flank of the Alps: slight increase of slab avalanche danger.