Hochschwab Mountains

Considerable avalanche danger at high altitudes due to fresh snowdrifts. Beware glide-snow activity.

Considerable avalanche danger at high altitudes due to fresh snowdrifts. Beware glide-snow activity.

At high altitudes, considerable avalanche danger prevails due to huge amounts of fresh snow and fresh snowdrift accumulations. Danger zones occur above the treeline over far-reaching areas on N/E/S facing slopes. On wind-loaded slopes and, in particular, behind protruberances in the terrain and at entry points into gullies and bowls, slab avalanches can be triggered even by minimum additional loading (one person). On extremely steep slopes in all aspects, naturally triggered loose-snow avalanches can be expected. On smooth grassy slopes, naturally triggered glide-snow avalanches can be expected which in isolated cases can endanger exposed transportation routes. Zones below glide-cracks should be circumvented. Poor visibility makes recognizing the danger zones more difficult.

The snowpack fundament bears marks of warm phases and rainfall, it is moist at intermediate altitudes, and melt-freeze encrusted at high altitudes. On Friday night rainfall at low altitudes will make the snowpack even wetter before the snowfall level descends to the valley floor in the early morning hours on Saturday. During the day up to 50 cm of fresh snow is expected. Initially SW winds, later on storm-strength NW winds will transport the snow, generate new snowdrift accumulations. Weak layers both inside the fresh snow and in the old snowpack pose threats.

A see-saw between warm, moist air masses from the south and arctic-cold air masses from the north will create inhospitable weather on Saturday. The snowfall level is hard to predict. Visibility will be reduced and intensive precipitation is anticipated. The snowfall level in Niedere Tauern will still be at 1300 m on Friday night, in the Northern Alps at 1000 m, then descend in early morning on Saturday down to the valley floor. Heavy precipitation in the morning, tapering off in the evening. Winds will shift from SW to NW and intensify in the afternoon. At 2000 m, temperatures will drop to -13 degrees by evening.

Sunday will be sunny and cold in the mountains. The low temperaturess will conserve the snowdrift problem. No significant change in avalanche danger levels. Special caution is urged: in spite of the beautiful weather, the situation is treacherous.