Hochschwab Mountains

Persistent weak layer problem in shady high altitudes!

Persistent weak layer problem in shady high altitudes!

The risk of avalanches increases slightly with the warming and sunshine. However, the clouds are dampening the daytime changes. Wet loose snow avalanches from slopes that have not yet discharged are still possible, although there have already been many discharges in the last few days. Triggering of dry slab avalanches is possible in very steep gullies and bowls on shady slopes with high additional loads. The avalanches can tear through to the ground in the northern sector. Occasional gliding avalanches can still slide from grass mats.

During the night, the firmness of the snowpack surface increases again briefly. Due to the mild temperatures and solar radiation, the snowpack loses firmness in the morning. On the northern slopes, the kinetic metamorphism (cup crystals in the snow layer close to the ground!) continues to weaken the snowpack.

Sunday starts bright and sunny once again in the Styrian mountains, with largely cloudless skies in the morning. Around midday, dense clouds appear from the west and spread eastwards until the evening. Apart from isolated and unproductive rain showers and snow showers above 1600 metres, it will remain dry in the mountains. Even at high altitudes, there will only be a light wind from the south. At 2000 metres it will be around 0 degrees at midday.

Monday will still be cloudy and unsettled, with unproductive showers possible, especially in the afternoon. From Tuesday, from today's perspective, high-pressure conditions will prevail again, resulting in calm, windless and mild weather. No significant change in the avalanche risk is expected.