Hochschwab Mountains

Significant avalanche danger above the tree line! Wet snow problems at lower altitudes!

Significant avalanche danger above the tree line! Wet snow problems at lower altitudes!

The avalanche risk is considerable above the tree line and moderate below. Avalanche prone locations are snow-covered slopes of all aspects, in particular in the east and south sectors. Particular caution is required behind terrain edges and in entrances to gullies and bowls. Medium-sized, occasionally also large slab avalanches can be triggered by individuals in many places. Sporadic, spontaneous, medium to large slab avalanches are also possible. At lower elevations, smaller spontaneous wet snow avalanches and gliding avalanches on steep meadow slopes are to be expected.

Wind from various directions has led to transported snow and fresh wind slabs in all aspects over the past few days. The east and south sectors are particularly affected. Weak layers are possible in the transition to persistent weak layers. The snow base, fundament is weakened by faceted crystals and floating snow. At lower elevations, the snow becomes moist due to rainfall and loses firmness. On steep meadow slopes, the snow can begin to glide snow.

The night into Sunday will bring frequent rain and snow north of the main ridge. The unsettled mountain weather will continue on Sunday. The peaks are often covered in fog and it keeps snowing. The snowfall level will rise from around 1000 metres during the night to 1700 metres on Sunday evening. A total of up to 30 cm of new fallen snow is expected in the high altitudes in the north-west (Dachstein Mountains, Totes Gebirge), slightly less in the more easterly and southerly mountain groups. The wind will blow from the northwest, increasing during the daytime changes and may become stormy, especially in the eastern mountain groups (Hochschwabgebirge, Mürzsteger Alpen). The temperature at 2000 metres will rise from -3 to 0 degrees during the day changes.

The unsettled, rainy and mild north-westerly weather conditions continue at the start of the week. The wet snow problem is getting worse.