Hochschwab Mountains

Instable snowdrift accumulations on shady slopes; isolated glide-snow releases

Instable snowdrift accumulations on shady slopes; isolated glide-snow releases

Avalanche danger above the treeline is moderate. Due to higher temperatures, likelihood of dry-snow slab avalanches has decreased. The drifts generated on Friday are bonding with the old snowpack surface. Danger zone are indicated by wind signs, easy to recognize, occur mosetly in shady terrain, esp. near ridgelines and at entries into gullies a slab avalanche can be triggered by 1 person. Gliding snow actdivitdy is increasing, even large releases are possible where snowfall has been heavy. Isolated loose-snow avalanches will remain small. Windblown exposed surfaces are often hard and icy, acute danger of falling.

Despite the mild temperatures the snow has remained powdery on sunny slopes. The fresh snow from Friday and the subsequently generated drifts lie deposited atop a melt-freeze crust; the faceted crystals beneath the crust are a potential weak layer. Deeper-down layers are triggerable only in isolated cases. Otherwise the snowpack is largely stable.

Fine weather is receding. Following a night of clear skies, some sunshine on Monday morning. By midday clouds from an Atlantic cold front will move in, lowering as the day progresses, but it will remaini dry. Precipitation will set in during Monday night, only minor snowfall on the northern flank of the Alps (snowfall level 900 m). At midday +7 degrees at 2000 m, +8 degrees at 1500 m. Winds will shift from southwesterly to westerly, reach 60 km/hr. On Tuesday, minor snowfall on the northern flank of the Alps, clouds dispersing somewhat in the afternoon. On the southern flank of the Alps, the northerly foehn wind will scatter the clouds all day long.

Avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly.