Werdenfels Alps

Caution: Risk of falling on wind-compressed encrusted snowpack surfaces!

Caution: Risk of falling on wind-compressed encrusted snowpack surfaces!

Avalanche danger is moderate above 1800 m; below that altitude it is low. The main problem are snowdrifts. A few avalanche prone locations are found in steep ridgeline terrain in NW-E-SE aspects as well as in wind-loaded gullies and bowls where medium-sized slab avalanches can be triggered by one sole wintersports enthusiast. Size and frequency of avalanche prone locations increase with ascending altitude.

Only insignificant amounts of new snow fell in the western part of the Bavarian Alps during Monday night which cover snowdrift accumulations and make them difficult to detect. During the day, southerly wind became increasingly brisk and generated fresh small-scale snowdrifts in ridgeline terrain which were partly deposited atop surface hoar and are prone to triggering. More insignificant amounts of new snow are forecast for Tuesday night and Wednesday which will be deposited atop surface hoar. At high altitudes weak intermediate layers still persist at transitions from older snowdrift accumulations to old snowpack. The snowpack depths are shallower than usual and strongly wind-impacted. Windward zones are partly blown bare down to the ground; leeward drifted snow accumulates in steep gullies and bowls adjacent to ridgelines.

It will stay chilly and time and again there will be a little snowfall. Avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly over the next few days.