Hochschwab Mountains

Fresh snowdrift accumulations from stormy NW winds

Fresh snowdrift accumulations from stormy NW winds

Avalanche danger above the treeline is considerable. Fresh drifts are being generated in N/E/S aspects. In entry zones to steep gullies and open spaces, as well as behind protruberances, even the weight of one sole skier can trigger a slab avalanche. Caution urged towards freshly built cornices, they are instable. Poor visibility and stormy winds make it more difficult to recognize avalanche prone locations.

Fresh snow is being worked on by stormy NW winds, generating drifts and depositing them in E/SE leeward terrain, also in forested zones. The drifts are growing and lie deposited atop hardened old snowpack surfaces, only in shady high-altitude terrain is the wind-loaded surface still soft or powdery or blanketed with surface hoar. In transitions to old snow and inside the fresh drifts themselves are soft layers which are weak. Exposed zones are generally windblown and icy.

On Sunday night a cold front will bring precipitation and stormy NW winds. In early morning, snowfall throughout the Styrian mountains. In southern regions clouds will soon disperse. In the northern barrier cloud regions and Niedere Tauern, up to 50 cm of fresh snow is expected, in Totes Gebirge even more. The high-altitude winds will be blowing at storm strength form the northwest amid icy temperatures. At 2000 m: -10 degrees.

On Tuesday, mostly free of precipitation but heavily overcast, even foggy, amid ongoingly storm-strength NW winds and somewhat higher temperatures. The main problem persists: the snowdrift accumulations.