Allgäu Alps West

Main danger: fresh snowdrifts and persistent weak layer

Main danger: fresh snowdrifts and persistent weak layer

Fresh and older snowdrifts are prone to triggering particularly in steep wind-loaded gullies and bowls and behind abrupt discontinuities in the terrain. Avalanche prone locations increase in number and size with ascending altitude. In addition, proneness to triggering will increase somewhat during the daytime due to rising temperatures and solar radiation. Small to medium slab avalanches can be triggered by one sole winter sports enthusiast on steep, little-tracked slopes. Above 2400 m on steep shady slopes there are unfavourable layers in the old snowpack. Activities in backcountry demand experience in avalanche danger assessment on-site. In steep rocky terrain the fresh snow can trigger small to medium loose-snow and slab avalanches.

In ridgeline and pass areas, behind abrupt discontinuities in the terrain and in wind-loaded terrain, fresh and older snowdrift accumulations have been generated, often deposited atop loose and soft layer of fresh snow, atop older snowdrifts or atop melt-freeze encrusted layers. Bonding to the old snowpack and inside the layers themselves deteriorates with ascending altitude, the likelihood of triggering increases. In leeward terrain and at low altitudes the fresh snow is still mostly loose, despite a certain amount of settling. At high altitudes, esp. on steep shady slopes there are still weak layers evident inside the old snowpack. These weak layers are not visible to the naked eye.

Nocturnal hours: above the high fogbanks, esp. in Bregenzerwald and Prealps, scattered clouds, easterly winds will ease, Tuesday: only thin high-altitude clouds, mostly sunshine, but still cold, amid easing easterly winds. At 2000 m: -6 to -1 degree. Moderate to brisk easterly winds.

Wednesday will be very sunny, apart from the fog-ridden zones. Temperatures at 2000 m will be -5 to -1 degree. Winds will slacken off noticeably. Avalanche danger will incrementally diminish.