Mürztal Alps

Strong easterly winds - new danger zones on west-facing slopes

Strong easterly winds - new danger zones on west-facing slopes

Avalanche danger is moderate. Danger zones lie on west-facing slopes near ridgelines where there are snowdrifts. Special caution urged on north-facing slopes at high altitudes: a persistent weak layer. A slab release is possible by large additional loading, small-to-medium avalanches are possible.

Over the last 24 hours only a small amount of fresh snow has been registered. The new-fallen snow was transported by strong easterly winds, fresh drifts were deposited on west-facing slopes atop a hardened old snowpack surface, On north-facing slopes the old snopack is unfavourably layered. The snowpack has moistened down to intermediate altitudes. The snowpack was able to settle somewhat.

A low over Italy is scooping moist air masses into Styria. Weather conditions are inhospitable. During the night, a bit of snowfall, snowfall level will fluctuate between 500 and 900 m. On Tuesday widespread snowfall on the southern flank of the Alps. In the northern regions snowfall will soon taper off, but fog and clouds will persist until sundown. Moderate to brisk NE winds (30-50 km/hr). At 2000 m, -3 degrees. Up to 10-20 cm of fresh snow is expected, focus in the southern Niedere Tauern. On Wednesday, sunny weather will reign.

No significant change in avalanche danger levels is anticipated.