Allgäu Alps Central

Increasingly unfavourable snow layering with altitude.

Increasingly unfavourable snow layering with altitude.

The avalanche danger is considerable above 1600 metres, below that it is low. The main problem at higher altitudes is a persistent weak layer. Dry slab avalanches can be triggered in some places by small additional loads. Avalanche prone locations are mainly on steep slopes with aspects from north-west to east to south-east as well as in gullies and bowls at the transition from little to much snow. The number and extent of avalanche prone locations increase with altitude. Slab avalanches can occasionally become large.

Wet snow is also problematic during daytime changes. Wet avalanches can detach themselves in very steep terrain, especially when exposed to sunlight. They can reach small to medium size.

Older, thick drift snowpacks lie in the upper part of the snow cover, in places on soft, angular layers or surface hoar, often in the area of crusts. At high altitudes, the base of the snowpack consists of faceted crystals. Up to high altitudes, the snow cover, snowpack is soaked through to the ground in many places. A melt-freeze crust forms on the surface overnight at mid-altitudes and on sunny slopes at high altitudes. On sunny slopes, it softens again during the daytime changes, causing the snow to lose its bond.

Slow decline in avalanche danger.