Hochschwab Mountains

Persistent weak layer problem in the northern and eastern sectors!

Persistent weak layer problem in the northern and eastern sectors!

The avalanche risk is low. In the northern and eastern exposures, there is still a persistent weak layer problem at higher altitudes. In steep terrain, small slab avalanches can be triggered by individual winter sports enthusiasts. Avalanche prone locations are mainly adjacent to ridgelines and behind terrain edges. In general, the risk of being swept away, falling and injury outweighs the risk of burial. However, be careful in the area of terrain traps.

A thin, partly bound snowpack covers the mostly hardness of the old snowpack. This is weakened on shady slopes by kinetic metamorphism (persistent weak layer problem!). There are faceted crystals between crusts. There is still only a little snow.

During the night to Sunday, medium-high clouds spread across the whole of Styria, but the peaks remained unaffected by them. In contrast, the clouds in the south-east shroud many peaks of the Randgebirge in fog. On Sunday, a low pressure system over Hungary sends dense clouds over the Styrian mountains. While the peaks in western Upper Styria will remain largely clear, Hochschwab, Wechsel and the peaks of the entire Randgebirge are likely to be repeatedly shrouded in fog. Visibility will be correspondingly limited here. Occasionally, a few snowflakes will also fall. The temperature at an altitude of 2000 metres will be around -5 degrees. The temperature at an altitude of 1500 metres will be around -4 degrees. The wind will be light to moderate with gusts of around 20 km/h.

No change in the avalanche danger is expected. The weather will temporarily improve on Monday, with bright and sunny leisure weather returning to the mountains. Tuesday will also bring intermittent sunshine, but the wind will pick up considerably. From today's perspective, Wednesday will be unsettled, with new fallen snow also possible.