Hochschwab Mountains

Fresh trigger-sensitive snowdrifts at high altitudes

Fresh trigger-sensitive snowdrifts at high altitudes

Avalanche danger will increase during the daytime at high altitudes: from moderate to considerable. Due to cold northerly winds, danger zones will rapidly increase, generating fresh snowdrift accumulations on N/E/S-facing slopes. Danger zones occur in ridgeline terrain and behind discontinuities, at entries into gullies and bowls. A slab will probably trigger from 1 person. As snowdrifts accumulate, also naturally triggered releases are possible in steep rough and rocky terrain. In high-altitude zones which have not yet discharged, isolated glide-snow avalanches are still possible. Open glide cracks are indicators of potential danger, avoid them.

At the start of this period of precipitation the snow fell with little wind. On Sunday the fresh snow and drifts will blanket the soft fresh snow which fell on Saturday, bonding with the cold powder is poor and thus, prone to triggering. The old snowpack is compact and without marked weak layers, topped by a thick crust which is capable of bearing loads (unpleasant for skiers: riddled with water seepage channels). On smooth ground the snowpack continues to crack and glide downhill.

Also on Monday, heavy clouds will move through, but it will remain mostly free of precipitation (a bit of exceptional snowfall is possible in the northern barrier cloud regions). Avalanche danger is not expected to change significantly.