Werdenfels Alps

Snowdrifts prone to triggering at high altitue

Snowdrifts prone to triggering at high altitue

Avalanche danger 1800m is considerable, below that altitude danger is low. Main problem: snowdrift accumulations. These can trigger a medium-sized avalanche by one sole skier/snowboarder. Avalanche prone locations occur in steep ridgeline terrain on N/E/SE facing slopes and in wind-loaded gulles and bowls. Size and frequency of danger zones tend to increase with ascending altitude and during the course of the day. In addition, wet snow is a problem, it can trigger naturally on very steep slopes as a loose-snow avalanche. Possibility of medium-sized glide-snow avalanches on steep smooth grass-covered slopes in all aspects, releases mostly small, but occasionally medium-sized.

Dry snow is being transported by S/W winds. Inside the drifts themselves, trigger-sensitive layers are being generated. Proneness to triggering tends to increase with ascending altitude. Below the snowfall level the snowpack is superficially moist, depending on the intensity of rainfall, and it is forfeiting firmness. Weak layers inside the old snowpack have largely consolidated at high altitudes, are triggerable only in isolated cases. The snowpack base is moist-to-wet down to the ground. Gliding snow is possible.

Danger of dry-snow avalanches persists at high altitudes