Werdenfels Alps

Beware of wet avalanches releasing above you - also on hiking trails

Beware of wet avalanches releasing above you - also on hiking trails

Avalanche danger above 1500 m is considerable, below that altitude danger is low. Wet snow is a problem. Wherever there is still enough snow, wet avalanches can be expected to trigger in very steep terrain at any time. Avalanches are medium-sized, although isolated avalanches can grow to large size. Most avalanche prone locations are located at elevations between 1600 m and 2200 m. Even on hiking trails over ground which is bare of snow, wet avalanches can be released on the slopes above them.

In the Bavarian Alps the snowpack is completely wet even up to highest altitudes. Showery thunderstorms will locally lead to substantial ingress of rainwater, thus increasing spontaneous avalanche activity at such locations. At highest altitudes a few centimeters of snow will fall which will bond well with the superficially moist old snowpack surface. At low and intermediate altitudes the ground is now frequently bare of snow, particularly on sunny slopes.

The wet-snow problem will persist.