Hochschwab Mountains

Moderate danger prevails at high altitudes

Moderate danger prevails at high altitudes

At higher altitudes the avalanche danger is moderate. Older and, to some extent, small and fresh prone-to-triggering drifts are found in N/E aspects generally near ridgelines, in gullies and bowls. A slab avalanche can be triggered in isolated cases by the weight of one sole skier, more often by large additional loading.

Wind impact has been strong recently, exposed zones are windblown, cavities filled with drifts. Drifts have been generated in several rounds, most often are prone to triggering where they blanket surface hoar. These intermediate layers can occur both inside the drifts and in transitions to the melt-freeze encrusted old snow. The old snowpack itself is weakened by faceted crystals.

In the NE massifs (Mürzsteger Alps into Wechsel region) some foglike cloud may prevail in the early part of the day, elsewhere unimpaired sunshine awaits us on Saturday. In early morning, still strong NW winds, easing during the daytime to light-to-moderate strength. Temperatures at 1500 m: +3 degrees; at 2000 m: +1 degree.

Sunday will be rather sunny, only thin, harmless cloudbanks. During the day, the NW winds will intensify noticeably, reach strom strength. Temperatures will begin to drop. Some fresh snow is expected at the beginning of next week, focus in the northern barrier cloud regions, with wind influence. Thus, avalanche danger can be expected to increase again.