Hochschwab Mountains

Low avalanche danger, but fresh snowdrifts require attentiveness

Low avalanche danger, but fresh snowdrifts require attentiveness

Avalanche danger is low. The moist snowpack was able to consolidated well and stabilize. At high altitudes, particularly on N/SE facing slopes, small snowdrift accumulations have been generated which can be triggered by large additional loading as slab avalanches. Dropping temperatures enhance the stabilization of the old snowpack fundament.

By Saturday morning, about 15 cm of snowfall was registered above 1500 m, 20 cm from place to place. It lies deposited behind abrupt drops in the terrain in N-S/E aspects as drifts which are well bonded with the snowpack. Further lower temperatures will help the snowpack to stabilize. On shady slopes at high altitudes, isolated weak layers are evident inside the snowpack.

Sunday will start with pleasant conditions, then from the NW dense cloud will move in bringing precipitation in the afternoon. At 2000 m: +1 degree; at 1500 m: +6 degrees. Snowfall level will descend by evening to 1000m, winds will shift to westerly-to-northwesterly. Due to a new cold front, 5-10 cm of fresh snow will be delivered to the mountains of Styria by Monday morning, in the western part of Niedere Tauern up to 20 cm, amid dropping temperatures. The precipitation will persist.

On Monday, avalanche danger will increase somewhat due to further snowfall and new snowdrifts.