Hochschwab Mountains

Favorable backcountry touring conditions

Favorable backcountry touring conditions

Low danger prevails in Styria. Isolated avalanche prone locations occur on north-facing slopes, where there is a persistent weak layer. A slab avalanche triggering on extremely steep shady slopes cannot be ruled out.

On the snowpack surface, surface hoar can again form during the nocturnal hours. On north-facing slopes in the Northern Alps and Niedere Tauern, older snowdrifts lie deposited atop a compact old snowpack. On shady high altitude slopes there are faceted crystals inside the snowpack structuring. On shady forest lanes the snow is still unbonded (due to cold). On sunny slopes the snowpack was able to settle, a melt-freeze crust (usually capable of bearing loads) formed. Icy – danger of falling. South of the Mur-Mürz rift the snowpack is stable. Melt-freeze or wind crusts dominate. In zones where there is little snow, it is expansively metamorphosed.

On Saturday above 2200 m there will be splendid sunshine. Below that altitude, clouds and up to 1500m, fog, which will reduce visibility. Lower peaks will be free of fog. Generally sunnier in regions closer to Salzburg. As a result of moderate NE winds, colder air masses will be brought our way. At 2000 m: -11 degrees. In the western mountain regions, mostly sunny on Sunday. Elsewhere fog and, in the SE regions, clouds will move in. It will remain dry. Temperatures will rise slightly.

No significant change in avalanche danger levels is anticipated.