Hochschwab Mountains

Cold, fresh snowdrift accumulations

Cold, fresh snowdrift accumulations

Avalanche danger in the Northern Alps and in the Hochschwab region is moderate above the treeline. Storm winds plus fresh snow have led to snow transport. Caution urged in N/E/S aspects, where slabs can be triggered even by minimum additional loading, which in turn can sweep away deeper down layers of the snowpack. Fresh cornices are instable, can trigger. As a result of solar radiation, loose-snow avalanches can trigger naturally in steep rough and rocky terrain.

From Dachstein to Hochschwab, an additional 10 cm of fresh snow was registered. The fresh snow and fresh drifts now blanket surface hoar in wind-protected zones. The old snowpack at high altitudes is often weakened by faceted crystals near melt-freeze crusts in the snowpack: these are weak layers!

An intermediate high-pressure front will bring lots of sunshine and mostly cloudless skies. Quite mild. Winds will be light to moderate from the west. At 2000 m: 0 degrees.

On Thursday a cold front coming from the north will bring lower temperatures, very stormy winds, and snowfall. From Dachstein to the Gesäuse and Hochschwab the snowfall will be more frequent. Further south, only a bit of snowfall. Avalanche danger will increase.