Chiemgau Alps East

The fresh snowdrifts are trigger-sensitive.

The fresh snowdrifts are trigger-sensitive.

Avalanche danger above the timberline is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. The main problem stems from fresh snowdrifts. Medium-sized slab avalanches can be triggered by minimum additional loading such as the weight of a single skier, both near to and distant from ridges in N/E/SW aspects. Above the timberline avalanches can grow to medium size. Size and frequency of avalanche prone locations increase slightly during the course of the day and with ascending altitude.

Stormy westerly winds accompany moderate snowfalls and generate fresh snowdrift accumulations that are prone to triggering. The snowdrifts bond only poorly with the old snowpack surface. Besides that, a thin trigger-sensitive layer consisting of expansively metamorphosed crystals is found underneath a near surface melt-freeze crust, in particular on the sunny side. Otherwise the old snowpack surface is wind-impacted and consists of wind crusts, older and fresh snowdrift accumulations, graupel, and powder snow.

Due to further snowfalls and plenty of wind the avalanche danger will increase.