Chiemgau Alps East

Spontaneous releases to be expected in the sun.

Spontaneous releases to be expected in the sun.

Avalanche danger above the timberline is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. Main problem: snowdrift accumulations. In a few places the snowdrifts can be triggered as medium-sized slab avalanches even by minimal additional loading. Avalanche prone locations are found in steep ridgeline terrain in W/N/SE aspects as well as in wind-loaded gullies and bowls. In extremely steep sun-exposed terrain, small loose-snow avalanches can release naturally. Isolated small glide-snow avalanches can trigger naturally on very steep slopes with smooth ground.

During Wednesday night, southerly and westerly winds will generate fresh limited scope snowdrift accumulations. Thin intermediate layers that are prone to triggering are embedded in both fresh and somewhat older snowdrift masses. Weak layers consisting of faceted crystals exist also in some places at the transition from the fresh snow from Tuesday and old snowpack surface, partly also around melt-freeze crusts. Such weak layers vary depending on aspect and altitude. As a consequence of solar radiation the snowpack surface is becoming moist and forfeits its firmness. In south-facing terrain at intermediate altitude the snow was deposited atop warm and partly wet ground which enables gliding movements of the snowpack.

Snowdrifts will become less of an issue; weak layers in the old snowpack will become more relevant.