Mürztal Alps

Moderate avalanche danger due to fresh snowdrifts. Also: beware glide-snow activity.

Moderate avalanche danger due to fresh snowdrifts. Also: beware glide-snow activity.

In exposed terrain, moderate avalanche danger prevails due to freshly generated snowdrift accumulations. Danger zones occur mainly on N/E/S facing slopes. On wind-loaded slopes and, in particular, behind protruberances in the terrain and at entry points into gullies and bowls, slab avalanches can be triggered even by minimum additional loading (one person). On smooth grassy slopes, naturally triggered glide-snow avalanches can be expected. Zones below glide-cracks should be circumvented.

The snowpack fundament bears marks of warm phases and rainfall, it is moist at intermediate altitudes, and melt-freeze encrusted at high altitudes. On top of this up to 30 cm of fresh snow fell on Saturday, with little wind to start with, later on with strong-sto-storm NW winds, subsequently transporting the fresh snow to leeward slopes. Weak layers inside the fresh snow, in transitions to old snow, and inside the old snowpack pose threats (loose unbonded snow).

Sunday will begin with strong velocity NW winds and barrier clouds in the Northern Alps, but little snowfall is anticipated. The clouds will disperse. South of the Main Alpine Ridge it will be sunny from the start. Temperatures at 2000 m will be -11 to -14 degrees (but feel colder due to wind). Winds will still be strong from the northwest, particularly in the morning hours, but later on slacken off somewhat. In the western regions of Styria winds will generally be lighter.

On Monday, a warm front will bring compact cloud cover and higher temperatures to the mountains of Styria. Avalanche danger levels will recede gradually.