Hochschwab Mountains

Trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations above 1600 m

Trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations above 1600 m

Above 1600 m, moderate danger prevails, below that altitude danger is low. Main problem: fresh snowdrifts, near ridgelines and behind abrupt discontinuities in the terrain, which can be triggered even by minimum additional loading. A slab on shady slopes can fracture down to more deeply embedded layers inside the snowpack and attain medium size. Poor visibility makes it more difficult to recognize the avalanche prone locations.

Fresh snowdrifts on Monday will be transported by the storm-strenth SW to NW winds to extended east-facing slopes. There, particularly near ridgelines and behind abrupt discontinuities in the terrain, snowpack patches will be generated which are poorly bonded with the old melt-freeze encrusted snowpack surface above 1600 m. At high altitudes the rainfall/snowfall will create better bonding with the old snowpack. There are also weak layers of faceted crystals inside the old snowpack fundament on shady north-facing slopes. Even if the snowfall makes the slopes turn white again, snow depths in general are still extremely below average.

As the result of the cold front and a low over Italy which came from the south, gray skies will be our lot on Monday. Clouds will be heavy right from the start, visibility will be poor, light to medium snowfall is anticipated. Snowfall level in early morning in northern regions at 1400 m, in southern regions at 1700 m, descending to about 800 m by afternoon. By Tuesday, 10-20 cm of fresh snow is anticipated, up to 30 cm in the Totes Gebirge. Winds will shift from southwesterly to northwesterly and remain strong. At 2000 m, temperatures dropping from -2 to -6 degrees.

On Tuesday, NW winds will intensify to storm strength, even reach gale strength. Cloud cover will disperse during the daytime, the precipitation will recede to the NW regions. Temperatures will continue to drop. At midday at 2000 m: -8 degrees. As a result of the strong winds, snowdrift accumulations will move to lower altitude zones, down to the timberline.