Fischbach Alps East, Wechsel

Low danger - shallow snowdrift patches above the timberline

Low danger - shallow snowdrift patches above the timberline

Avalanche danger is LOW. Thin snowdrift patches are being generated on N/E/S facing slopes above the treeline, esp. behind abrupt discontinuities in the terrain and in gullies and bowls. They can trigger a small slab avalanche.

In general, the old snowpack is quite stable and melt-freeze encrusted up to high altitudes, at ground level it is moist. There has been 5 cm of fresh snow registered accompanied by strong NW winds. Storm-strength winds have generated fresh snowdrift accumulations which are instable and prone to triggering. At low altitudes there is, at best, a fragmented snowpack. In the Graz mountains there is little snow on the ground.

On Thursday in the Northern Alps skies will be heavily overcast in early morning, swiftly clear a bit later. Elsewhere the day will being will little cloud, though cirrus clouds will pass through later in the day. Temperatures will rise during the day from the west. Northerly winds will slacken off noticeably. At 2000 m: in the afternoon between -5 degrees on the Dachstein and -7 degrees in the Hochschwab region. On Friday, temperatures will rise significantly accompanied by southerly winds. At 2000 m: between 5 and 10 degrees at midday. Sunshine. High-altitude cirrus clouds will not disturb the sunny weather.

The situation will settle, lose its tenseness. As temperatures continue to rise, snowdrift problems will recede. Wet-snow activity will increase.