Werdenfels Alps

Persistent weak layer in some places

Persistent weak layer in some places

Avalanche danger is moderate above 2000 m, below that altitude danger is low. Persistent weak layers threaten at high altitudes in isolated extremely steep zones and near to ridgelines where there is lots of snow. In zones where there is lots of snow and older snowdrifts, slab avalanches can trigger from gullies and bowls, reaching medium size on occasion, otherwise small. On steep grassy slopes, isolated small slide-snow slides cannot be excluded.

The snowpack has only a few cm of loose new snow, moist on south-facing slopes during the day, this atop a shallow old snowpack. At intermediate altitudes the snowpack basis is melt-freeze encrusted, moist towards the ground, but compact. At higher altitudes there are still trigger-sensitive layers of faceted crystals bordering against crusts. All in all, there is too little snow for this juncture of the season. Depths vary between 10 and 60 cm, more near ridgelines at high altitudes and in bowls.

As a result of the higher temperatures over the next few days, the snowpack will settle and stabilse also at high altitudes. On sunny slopes the ground is becoming bare.