Hochschwab Mountains

Low avalanche danger, only local avalanche prone locations, fresh snowdrift patches due to southerly foehn

Low avalanche danger, only local avalanche prone locations, fresh snowdrift patches due to southerly foehn

Low danger prevails in general. Dangerous places for dry-snow slab avalanches are limited to isolated, extremely steep, shady gullies above 2400 m. The glide-snow activity is receding, isolated releases on steep slopes over smooth ground cannot be ruled out. Therefore: avoid zones with glide cracks. In exposed terrain the snowpack surface is hard: risk of falling.

Local minor snowfall in Totes Gebirge and Niedere Tauern. The largely compact but moist snowpack was able to firm up somewhat on Monday due to lower temperatures. Depending on altitude and aspect the melt-freeze crust can-or-cannot bear loads. Above 2400 m, local weak layers in the old snow can be triggered. At lower altitudes the snowpack is giving way to bare ground.

On Tuesday a SW air current will permit only a little sunshine, clouds will repeatedly pass through. The SW winds will often be brisk-to-strong, over the Koralpe and Zirbitzkogel storm-strength. Temperatures will rise especially on the northern flank of the Alps. At 2000 m: +7 to +10 (foehn-induced), palpably cooler on Turrach (just above zero). On Wednesday, a cold front will bring wintery conditions back to the mountains. Stormy NW winds, dropping temperatures, the snowfall level down on the valley floor by evening. Most of the snowfall will be in the western Gurktal Alps and Schladming Tauern: up to 40 cm expected.

Pronounced slab avalanche danger amid stormy, wintery-cold conditions and poor visibility.