Werdenfels Alps

Weak layers inside the snowdrifts

Weak layers inside the snowdrifts

Avalanche danger the treeline is moderate, and will increase to considerable during the course of the day; below that altitude danger is low. Main problem: snowdrift accumulations. These can trigger a medium-sized avalanche by one sole skier. Avalanche prone locations occur in steep ridgeline terrain on NW/N/E facing slopes and in wind-loaded gulles and bowls. Size and frequency of danger zones tend to increase with ascending altitude and during the course of the day. Possibility of medium-sized glide-snow avalanches on steep smooth grass-covered slopes in all aspects, releases mostly small, but occasionally medium-sized.

The fresh fallen snow is being transported by S/W winds of varying intensity. Inside the drifts themselves, trigger-sensitive layers are being generated. The drifts are being deposited atop corn snow, depending on region, or atop a thin melt-freeze crust or atop older drifts. Weak layers inside the old snowpack have largely consolidated at high altitudes, are triggerable only in isolated cases. The snowpack base is moist-to-wet down to the ground. Gliding snow is possible.

Weather remains variable. Not much precipitation anticipated, little change expected.