Hochschwab Mountains

All aspects wind-loaded, danger zones in wind-loaded distant-from-ridgeline gullies, bowls, forest clearances

All aspects wind-loaded, danger zones in wind-loaded distant-from-ridgeline gullies, bowls, forest clearances

Avalanche prone locations increase with ascending altitude, reaching from forest clearances at low altitude to distant-from-ridgeline areas at high altitude. AVOID steep gullies and bowls before all else. Trigger-sensitive snowdrifts can occur in all aspects due to storm winds, wind-and-fog make orientation and on-site assessment of dangers more difficult.

Atop the encrusted old snowpack fundament trhere has been 30 cm of fresh snow deposited since Friday, permanently transported by storm winds, and deposited as brittle snowdrifts - unformed and bonded. Atop ridgeline slopes, crests, ridges, plateaus, the snow is utterly windblown. The fresh drifts can extend to below th treeline, are deposited distant from ridges in gullies and bowls.

The Eastern Alps lie in the grip of a NW air current. After the warm front on Saturday moved on, bringing only minor precipitation on the northern flank of the Alps, on Sunday a cold front will bring minor precipitation along the Northern Alps and Niedere Tauern. The snowfall level will descend from 1000 m in the morning down to 600 m. Low lying clouds will disperse at midday from the west (most persistent in Hochschwab and eastwards) . Winds will be at the forefront, reaching gale strength in high alpine regions. The south has favorable conditions: short showers can pass through, but sunshine will dominate. Temperatures at midday in northern regions: -7 degrees at 2000 m; -3 degrees at 1500 m; south of the Tauern and in the rimline ranges, -4 to 0 degrees.

Following a brief intermediate high, the next cold front will reach Upper Styria on Monday. It will bring precipitation to the northern barrier cloud regions and stormy winds, lasting till mid-week. Slow rise in avalanche danger.