Hochschwab Mountains

Low avalanche danger. Persistent weak layers in high altitudes.

The avalanche danger is in general low. Persistent weak layers above 1.800 m. Danger spots are usually located in shady northwesterly to southeasterly expositions, especially in entries to extremely steep gullies and bowls. Here medium-sized slab avalanches can be triggered by high additional loads.

The snowcover is in general unusually thin considering the season. Only in blown-in gullies and bowls higher amounts of compact snow is found. On sunny slopes the snow cover is already moist even in high altitudes. On the surface hoar is forming. On shady slopes in medium and high altitudes a succession of soft layers built of faceted snow crystals and melt-freeze crust is found. The bonding is poor and the snow base is weak.

It will be sunny in the morning of Monday with stormy southwesterly winds. Temperatures are rising short term and will be around 4 degrees in 2.000 m. In the afternoon clouds are accumulating beginning from west. An upcoming cold front will cause a bit of new snow on Tuesday.

Tuesday will be cloudy with snowfall down to 1.000 m. In the area of Turrach around 30 cm of new snow is expected. In the north andh east less new snow in the Mürzsteger Alps around 5 cm. Due to fresh snowdrift the avalanche danger rises a little bit.