Werdenfels Alps

Potential avalanche prone locations are covered in snow and difficult to recognise.

Potential avalanche prone locations are covered in snow and difficult to recognise.

The avalanche risk is considerable above 2000 metres and moderate below that. The main problem is wind slab avalanches. Slab avalanches can be triggered in some places by small additional loads and can occasionally become large. The avalanche prone locations are mainly in steep terrain adjacent to ridgelines, below terrain edges and in gullies and bowls. They increase in number and size with altitude.

On very steep slopes with smooth ground, such as on meadows and in sparse mountain forests, medium-sized gliding avalanches can detach themselves.

When exposed to sunlight, small loose snow avalanches detach from extremely steep areas.

Extensive snowdrift accumulations from the last few days lie on soft layers and graupel. In an altitude band from approx. 1500 m to 2000 m, there is a melt-freeze crust underneath last week's fresh snow pack on the shady slopes, under which faceted crystals have formed. Some of these are still prone to triggering. Deep-lying layers of faceted crystals at the base of the snowpack can hardly be disturbed. At ground level, the snow is often wet at medium altitudes. The surface snow becomes wet in the sun.

The wet snow problem comes to the fore over the Easter weekend.