Hochschwab Mountains

UPDATE: HIGH avalanche danger. Exposed transport roads imperiled by wet-snow avalanches.

As snowfall and winds persist, the avalanche situation will remain tense.

UPDATE: HIGH avalanche danger. Exposed transport roads imperiled by wet-snow avalanches.

Above the treeline, HIGH avalanche danger (Danger Level 4) prevails, below 1000-1200 m wet slab and loose-snow avalanches threaten to trigger from forested and grass-covered slopes which can endanger transport roads. Naturally triggering slabs and loose-snow avalanches are likely on steep slopes in all aspects. Frequency and spread of danger zones increases with ascending altitude. As the fresh snow accumulates, the weight can cause deeper layers to give way, the releases can be large-sized. Backcountry tours demand a high degree of restraint.

In the last 24 hours there has been 50-100 cm of fresh snow registered widespread, in the Eisenerzer Alps, Gesäuse and Hochschwab regions up to 120 cm. Ascending snowfall level during the day will lead to a moistening of the snowpack below 1000-1200m and loss of bonding. Weak layers occur inside the fresh snow and at the borders to the snowpack. More deeply embedded inside the snowpack are layers of faceted crystals surrounding melt-freeze crusts which weaken the entire snowpack.

Precipitation will ease over the course of the morning, turn to rain below 1000-1200 m, sometimes sleet or drizzling at low altitudes. As evening approaches the precipitation will intensify in the northern barrier cloud regions, during Friday night widespread snowfall is anticipated, the snowfall level will slowly descend again. At 2000 m: -6 degrees; the zero-degree level lies at 1200 m. On Saturday, light intermittent snowfall, the snowfall level will descend to the valley floor, and gale-strength NW winds will be blowing. Temperature at 2000 m: -10 degrees.