Hochschwab Mountains

Moderate avalanche danger at high altitudes!

Moderate avalanche danger at high altitudes!

The avalanche danger is rated as "moderate" above 1800 metres. Avalanche prone locations are mainly in shady areas at high altitudes, where slab avalanches can be triggered by large additional loads and occasionally also by small additional loads. Mainly medium-sized avalanches are expected, but they can also become large in isolated cases. Spontaneous, wet loose snow avalanches and occasional gliding avalanches are to be expected on the sunny slopes.

The thick snowdrift accumulations of the past few days have settled and are hardly prone to triggering. However, at higher elevations, a weak layer has formed in the transition to the largely stable old snow foundation. At medium elevations and sunny slopes up to the higher elevations, the snow cover is becoming increasingly isothermal and moist, losing stability or starting to glide on a smooth surface. At lower altitudes, the snowpack is increasingly thinning out.

On Holy Saturday, increasingly dense clouds from a warm front will move in from the north-west in the morning. During the day, heavy clouds will predominate, the peaks will be in the clouds again and again and there will also be a few rain or snow showers. The snowfall level will rise to over 2000 metres during the day. The temperature at an altitude of 2000 metres will rise from -3 to +1 degrees. Strong to stormy winds from the north-west.

Mild mountain weather with plenty of sunshine and little wind on Easter Sunday. The wet and gliding snow problem is becoming increasingly important, the persistent weak layer problem is easing.