Hochschwab Mountains

Moderate avalanche danger at high altitudes due to fresh snowdrift accumulations

On Monday, improving weather, sunshine in the morning, the precipitation will end, temperatures rise from -8 degrees in the morning to +2 degrees in the afternoon at 2000 m. Fresh snowdrift accumulations will remain prone to triggering. Avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly.

Moderate avalanche danger at high altitudes due to fresh snowdrift accumulations

Avalanche danger above 1800 m is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. Fresh snowdrift accumulations have been deposited in extended SE facing terrain esp. behind discontinuities and in entries to gullies and bowls, they can be triggered by 1 person. Also on steep north-facing slopes there are still weak layers which can easily be triggered, slab avalanches can be medium-sized. At intermediate altitudes, glide-snow avalanches can still trigger naturally on steep slopes in all aspects where there is enough snow, despite lower temperatures.

The fundament is isotherm up to high altitudes, is often losing its attachment to the ground. Near-surface esp. south-facing layers were moist and wet prior to precipitation, atop of this the fresh drifts were deposited, esp. on E/S facing slopes, bonding wll with the soft old snow. But bonding of fresh drifts on high altitude shady slopes is poor. In addition, weak layers inside the drifts exist, such as graupel or fresh snow crystals.

On Palm Sunday, variably cloudy skies, instable conditions with some sunshine. At midday some snow or graupel showers. Cold, the snowfall level will rise from 700 to 1000 m during the daytime. Visibility reduced. The NW winds will start moderate, become brisker. At 2000 m: -6 degrees; at 1500 m: -4 degrees.