Hochschwab Mountains

Decreasing slab avalanche danger but wet-snow/glide-snow avalanches possible at all altitudes!

Decreasing slab avalanche danger but wet-snow/glide-snow avalanches possible at all altitudes!

Moderate avalanche danger. Above 1800 m the snowfall from Sunday was transported, mostly to NE/SE facing slopes, generating fresh snowdrift accumulations esp. distant from ridges. Mild temperatures and rain impact are decreasing the tensions in the snowpack. Main danger: wet loose-snow avalanches. Danger zones extend from high to low altitudes on hillsides (snowslides). Also glide-snow avalanches are a threat, thus, avoid zones below glide cracks.

The fresh snowfall from Sunday morning was minor (10-15 cm) between Dachstein and Hochschwab, dry in the southern mountain ranges, but rainfall up to 1500 m. The fresh snow is bonding poorly with the melt-freeze encrusted old snowpack, stormy westerly winds transported it mostly to NE/SE facing slopes. On Monday the snowpack will forfeit much of its firmness due to rain and higher temperatures. Only on high altitude shady slopes will the snowpack have greater inner reserves of cold, therefore remain brittle and prone to triggering for longer.

A powerful westerly air current will traverse the Eastern Alps in an Atlantic front, bringing relatively mild air masses our way. On Monday on the northern flank of the Alps, barrier clouds will bring snowfall/rainfall. Snowfall level will ascend from 1000 gradually to 1600 m. Particularly during the afternoon, isolated showers can extend to the southern flank, where there will also be some sunshine. At high altitudes, strong to stormy westerly winds will be blowing. At midday at 2000 m: +1 degree, at 1500 m, +3 degrees. On Tuesday, westerly weather with strong winds and mild temperatures. Summits mostly in fog, only occasional sunshine.

Loss of snowpack firmness due to further rainfall. Thus, main danger: loose-snow and wet-snow avalanches.