Hochschwab Mountains

Easterly winds

Easterly winds

Avalanche danger from Dachstein over Totes Gebirge to Hochschwab is considerable above the treeline. Below the treeline danger is moderate. Danger zones occur near to and distant from ridgelines in W/N/E facing terrain. On Monday the west-facing slopes will become wind-loaded. A slab avalanche can be triggered even by minimum additional loading. Caution urged towards fresh cornices, they are instable.

From Totes Gebirge to Hochschwab the snowpack was able to settle somewhat. At high altitudes where there was wind, bonded snow lies atop a cold, soft layer of snow. Weak layers are evident deeply embedded inside the snowpack. On north-facing slopes the snowpack is faceted. On south-facing slopes the fundament is mostly hardened. Near forested zones there is cold, unbonded fresh snow.

At the edge of a low over Italy, the front has the southeastern regions in its grip. Weather conditions are highly inhospitable: heavy clouds, peaks wreathed in fog, snowfall in the western regions of Styria: intensive and persistent. Between Monday midday and Tuesday midday, 20-30 cm of fresh snow is anticipated, plus stormy E/NE winds (up to 80 km/hr). Further to the northwest, much less snowfall. At 2000 m: -4 degrees. Snowfall level at about 800 m.

No significant change in avalanche danger levels is expected.