Berchtesgaden Alps

Assess snowdrifts at high altitude prudently.

Assess snowdrifts at high altitude prudently.

Avalanche danger above 2000m is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. In some patches snowdrifts can be problematic and can even be triggered by minimum additional loading as small to medium-sized slabs. Avalanche prone locations are found in steep ridgeline terrain in NW/N/E aspects. Snowdrift accumulations are difficult to detect, since they are covered by a few centimeters of loose new fallen snow. In addition, isolated small spontaneous releases of glide-snow avalanches can occur on very steep slopes with smooth ground.

At high altitudes the new fallen snow and snowdrifts of the last few days were deposited atop dry soft layers on the shady side. On the sunny side the bonding with the encrusted old snowpack surface is good. However, up beyond the timberline there is no old snow base. The old snowpack as such is stable, at intermediate altitude thoroughly moist and occasionally wet down to the ground.

As of Sunday there will be a slow transition to spring-like conditions due to daytime warming.