Allgäu Alps Central

Gliding snow remains a problem.

Gliding snow remains a problem.

Avalanche danger above the treeline is moderate. Main problem: gliding snow which can trigger at any time on very steep slopes with smooth ground in any aspect and reach medium size. Avoid zones below glide cracks. In addition, isolated wet loose slides can be triggered by a person engaged in winter sports. Avalanche prone locations occur in windless extremely steep south-facing terrain. Heed danger of being swept along. Danger of taking a fall on hard snowpack surface.

The snowpack surface is becoming more and more compact.The different layers within the snowpack are dissolving. Due to nocturnal outgoing longwave radiation the snowpack surface freezes which has softened during the day. In windless zones on the sunny side it slowly turns into firn again. In wind-exposed or shady zones the snowpack surface can stay hard all day. At intermediate altitudes the snowpack consists of melted forms, is thoroughly moist, often wet down to the ground. Gliding movements over slopes with smooth ground are to be expected. There are locally weak layers consisting of faceted crystals in shady summit zones at high altitude. Fracture propagation over wide-spread areas is not likely. Below 1300 m there is hardly any snow left.

Foehn is forecast for Friday. The milder temperature will continue to reduce the snowpack depth further. Avalanche danger will recede somewhat.