Hochschwab Mountains

Moderate avalanche danger above the tree line due to fresh wind slab!

Moderate avalanche danger above the tree line due to fresh wind slab!

The avalanche danger is moderate above the tree line. Fresh snowdrift accumulations, mainly in the north, east and south sectors, can be triggered as medium slab avalanches in some places behind ridgelines, terrain edges and in gullies and bowls due to low additional loads.

Since Thursday, up to 30 cm of new fallen snow, sometimes interspersed with graupel, has been transported to the eastern sectors, especially in the northern Alps, by strong westerly to north-westerly winds, where it forms bound wind slab. In regions and terrain with little wind, the new fallen snow remains soft and powdery. The fresh wind slab can contain weak layers and often lies on an unstable layer of faceted crystals or surface hoar. In the foundation of the snow cover, kinetic metamorphism (floating snow) weakens the stability.

It will snow from the Niedere Tauern to the Koralpe in the night to Saturday, with up to 10 cm of new fallen snow expected. During the day, the clouds will soften south of the main Alpine ridge and the sun may even make an appearance. North of the main Alpine ridge, clearing is rare and snowfall will resume during the afternoon. The north-westerly wind will be brisk, sometimes even strong. The temperature will drop again to -6 to -9 degrees at 2000 metres above sea level.

During the night to Sunday, some new fallen snow will be added in the north of the country and the avalanche risk will continue to slowly increase.