Hochschwab Mountains

Storm wind plus fresh fallen snow - new snowdrift accumulations

Storm wind plus fresh fallen snow - new snowdrift accumulations

Following an extended phase of favourable conditions, avalanche danger below the treeline is low, moderate above that altitude. The reason: the latest snowfall combined with stormy winds. At high altitudes, fresh snowdrift accumulations are being generated, danger zones are found esp. on NE/S facing slopes. Despite the glide-snow avalanche activity, zones below glide cracks should be avoided - or quickly traversed.

At low altitudes the moist fresh fallen snow will bond well with the old snowpack. At higher altitudes the fresh snow falling amid wind impact will be deposited atop melt-freeze encrusted surfaces. Bonding to the old snowpack is poor. A lubricating layer has formed at ground level which helps the whole snowpack to glide away and can fracture.

On Friday night, a powerful cold front with rainfall/snowfall will reach the Eastern Alps. It will bring windy and cold winter weather. On Saturday snowfall along the northern flank of the Alps will be moderate, then ease over the course of the day. On the peaks of the northern flank of the Alps, winds will be stormy, even stronger in the rimline ranges. Temperatures will drop. At midday tt 2000 m: -9 degrees; at 1500 m: -5 degrees. On the southern flank of the Alps, conditions will be more pleasant, less cold and stormy, the winds will disperse the clouds increasingly. Sunday will be cold and have some snow showers on the northern flank of the Alps. Low lying cloud will dominate there. In the south, frequent sunshine is expected.

No change.