Hochschwab Mountains

Not much snow, low avalanche danger, still isolated avalanche prone locations at high altitudes on the northern flank of the Alps

Not much snow, low avalanche danger, still isolated avalanche prone locations at high altitudes on the northern flank of the Alps

Avalanche danger throughout Styria’s mountains is low, isolated avalanche prone locations (persistent weak layer) occur at high altitudes of the Dachstein, Totes Gebirge Massif and on the north side of the Tauern on N/E slopes at entry points into steep gullies and bowls and in general behind abrupt discontinuities in the terrain in isolated cases where small slab avalanches can be triggered in isolated cases. Below 2000 m on steep grassy slopes in all aspects, naturally triggered avalanches can be expected. Open glide cracks are danger signals, avoid those zones. Due to the shallow snow depths, often with melt-freeze encrusted or surface-hoar blanketed surfaces, the risks of taking a fall outweigh those of being buried in snow masses.

The unusually high temperatures have further encrusted the snowpack, snow depths are extremely below average for this juncture of the season. The snowline is at the timberline, on sunny slopes ever higher up. The moist snowpack has become encrusted due to the drop in temperatures. Weak layers inside the snowpack are still prone to triggering: ground level depth hoar and crystal layers, mostly above 2300 m in shady ridgeline terrain. Below 2000 m the shallow snowpack on steep grassy slopes is gliding away. At intermediate altitudes the slopes are becoming bare of snow. The old snow is moist down to the ground.

A cold front will brush by the northern regions on Tuesday, skies throughout the mountains will remain gray, the peaks will be shrouded in fog, a bit of light rainfall will set in from the north, light snowfall down to 1500 m will set in later on. Temperatures will drop noticeably. At 2000 m at midday: 0 degrees; at 1500 m: +4 degrees. The W/NW winds will be mostly light, brisker eastwards of Hochschwab. Wednesday will be quite sunny. On Thursday the next weak cold front will brush by the Eastern Alps bringing light rainfall.

No change is expected in avalanche danger levels.