Hochschwab Mountains

Springtime conditions with swift increase in avalanche danger

Springtime conditions with swift increase in avalanche danger

Due to solar radiation and daytime warming, avalanche danger rises in the morning from LOW to MODERATE. Particularly on sunny slopes the likelihood of naturally triggered wet-snow and glide-snow avalanches increases in steep terrain, and these can grow to large size. Also: in steep north-facing gullies there is a persistent weak layer where in few places slab avalanches can be triggered.

As a result of nocturnal outgoing long wave radiation, the snowpack is still encrusted in early morning but swiftly softens during the morning hours on sunny slopes up to high altitudes. The snowpack is thoroughly wet and becoming wetter, at intermediate altitudes it is already rotten. On steep north-facing slopes at high altitudes there are still reserves of cold and there, faceted crystals have formed weak layers.

On Sunday, outstanding mountain weather, lots of sunshine, excellent visibility, little wind. Only in the NE massifs will there be some harmless convective cloud build-up in the afternoon. Temperatures will be very mild. At 2000 m: +3 degrees.

No significant change is expected on Monday in the weather or avalanche situation.