Chiemgau Alps East

Snowdrift accumulations in places prone to triggering!

Snowdrift accumulations in places prone to triggering!

Avalanche danger above the timberline is moderate; below it is low. Main problem: fresh snowdrifts. In particular in steep ridgeline terrain in N/W/S aspects as well as in wind-loaded gullies and bowls medium-sized slab avalanches can be triggered even by minimum additional loading such as the weight of a single skier. Size and frequency of avalanche prone locations increase with ascending altitude and are difficult to detect when blanketed by new snow.In addition, dry loose snow avalanches can trigger naturally in extremely steep terrain in isolated places, or glide snow avalanches can trigger naturally on steep slopes on smooth ground. The avalanches are mostly small.

Up to 60 cm loose new snow of the weekend is impacted by moderate easterly wind, thus generating fresh trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations. In places, snowdrift layers were also generated over the weekend due to northwesterly winds which were blanketed by new snow. Snowpack analyses prove no marked tendency to fracture propagation. The base of the old snowpack is stable and moist up to high intermediate altitudes; at the ground it is often even wet. In lower lying areas and at higher altitudes in south aspects the new snow of the weekend was deposited on the previously bare ground.

Rise of number of spontaneously releasing avalanches due to warmer temperatures and sunshine.