Hochschwab Mountains

Heavy snowfall from Friday to Saturday - unfavourable conditions!

Heavy snowfall from Friday to Saturday - unfavourable conditions!

Avalanche danger above the treeline is HIGH, below that altitude danger is moderate. Main problem: the fresh fallen snow. Most danger zones occur on N/E facing slopes behind abrupt drops in the terrain (near to and distant from ridgelines) and in gullies and bowls in all aspects. Frequency of danger zones increases with ascending altitude. Triggering a small-to-medium sized slab avalanche is possible esp. at high altitudes, even by minimum additional loading. If snowfall continues, naturally triggered loose-snow avalanches and slab avalanches can be expected which can endanger exposed transportation routes. On steep grassy slopes, wet glide-snow slides can be expected. Poor visibility makes spotting danger zones more difficult.

Since Thursday there has been 40-60 cm of fresh snow registered, more from place to place. On Friday night, further heavy snowfall is expected. By Saturday evening another 60cm could be added to it. The intensifying NW winds have transported the snow since Friday far-reachingly. The snowdrift accumulations lie deposited atop unbonded fresh snow and are prone to triggering. In addition, bonding of fresh snow to the old snowpack is not sufficient. At intermediate altitudes the fresh snow fell on bare ground. On steep grassy slopes, wet glide-snow slides can be expected.

An occlusion of a low-pressure front is bringing us dense clouds, poor visibility and precipitation. The snowfall level will lie at 800-1200 m north Main Alpine Ridge, on the southern flank of the Alps at 1100-1500 m. Heaviest snowfall will be in the Dachstein, Totes Gebirge and Hochschwab regions, where from Friday to Saturday 40-80 cm of fresh snow can fall. Towards east and south, intensity of snowfall will ease, in Niedere Tauern up to 30 cm is expected, in Gurktal and Seetal Alps and the rimline ranges, hardly any precipitation. Winds will be westerly, strong in the Northern Alps and gusty, only light in the southern regions. In the Northern Alps at 2000 m: -5 degrees; at 1000 m: 0 degrees, in the south higher.

On Sunday, low-pressure front conditions will determine the weather, dense cloud, repeated precipitation is possible. Snowfall level will ascend.