Hochschwab Mountains

Decreasing slab avalanche danger but wet-snow/glide-snow avalanches possible at all altitudes!

Decreasing slab avalanche danger but wet-snow/glide-snow avalanches possible at all altitudes!

Moderate avalanche danger. Mild temperatures and rain impact are decreasing the tensions in the snowpack. Danger of slab avalanches has decreased. The last trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations fom Sunday morning occur esp. on shady slopes above 1900 m. Due to poor sibitility the danger zones are difficult to recognize. Main danger: wet loose-snow avalanches. Danger zones extend from high to low altitudes on hillsides (snowslides). Also glide-snow avalanches are a threat, thus, avoid zones below glide cracks.

The snowfall from Sunday to Monday at high altitudes was minor (about 20 cm between Dachstein and Hochschwab, 10 cm in the southern mountain ranges) but rainfall up to 1500 m. The fresh snow is bonding poorly with the melt-freeze encrusted old snowpack, stormy westerly winds transported it mostly to NE/SE facing slopes. On Monday the snowpack forfeited much of its firmness due to rain and higher temperatures, this process will continue on Tuesday. Only on high altitude shady slopes will the snowpack have greater inner reserves of cold, therefore remain brittle and prone to triggering for longer.

A powerful westerly air current will traverse the Eastern Alps in an Atlantic front, bringing relatively mild air masses our way. On the northern flank of the Alps, pleasant conditions on Tuesday morning, apart from strong westerly winds. Summits oftern in fog. At midday, high altitudes clouds will bring in a warm front, rainfall will begin in the afternoon (snowfall initially only over 2000 m). On the southern flank of the Alps the moist ground-level layer will persist; fog will disperse only in the afternoon. High clouds will dominate, but it will remain dry. At 2000 m: +1 degree; at 1500 m: +3 degrees. On Wednesday, gray skies will bring precipitation to the entire Alps with a cold front, but only minor amounts. Snowfall level will descend down to low lying areas during the course of the morning.

Ongoing loss of snowpack firmness due to further rainfall. Thus, main danger: loose-snow and wet-snow avalanches.