Hochschwab Mountains

HEED snowdrift accumulations above 1700 m. AVOID zones below glide cracks.

HEED snowdrift accumulations above 1700 m. AVOID zones below glide cracks.

Avalanche danger is low, above 1700 m danger is moderate. Snowdrifts are continually be displaced and re-deposited, danger zones are thus small and distributed in highly varied patterns. Bonding between melt-freeze encrusted old snow and drifts is poor. A slab can trigger most likely in transitions from shallow to deep snow by large additional loading. On all steep slopes where the ground is smooth, heavy gliding movements are being observed, particularly on sunny slopes. On shady high altitude slopes, there is still a persistent weak layer, most recently in old blanketed surface hoar or faceted crystals beneath melt-freeze crusts. In exposed terrain, e.g. windblown gullies, it is hard and icy, there is a risk of being forced to take a fall.

The shift from higher to lower temperatures has stabilized the snowpack. At low altitudes the surfaces become soft during the day. At higher altitudes they remain melt-freeze encrusted, on shady slopes with compacted powder. On shady slopes, often hardened compressed powder. Fresh drifts (shallow) were generated particularly on distant-from-ridgeline slopes down to the treeline.

A stormy westerly air current still dominates our weather. Following a dry but not clear night, a cold front will traverse the northern flank of the Alps on Monday, bringing low lying cloud and about 10 cm of fresh snow (above 800 m) to the region between Dachstein and Hochschwab. In the afternoon the precipitation will stop, the clouds temporarily disperse. As the front passes through, winds from west to northwest can reach gale strength, and it will remain stormy. Temperatures will drop significantly. At 2000 m: from 0 degrees in early morning to -8 degrees at midday; at 1500 m from +3 to -4 degrees. As a result of the cold front, the clouds bringing precipitation will also reach the southern regions, and winds will intensify. Sunshine will be rare. On Tuesday the air current will shift to northwesterly and it will become moister. By Wednesday afternoon, northern barrier clouds will bring up to 30 cm of fresh snow along the Northern Alps. In the southern massifs, it will remain largely dry.

Due to storm strength winds and the fresh snow generating new snowdrift accumulations, avalanche danger will increase.