Werdenfels Alps

Beware of small to medium-sized wet snow avalanches in steep terrain and glide snow avalanches - especially below 2200m!

Beware of small to medium-sized wet snow avalanches in steep terrain and glide snow avalanches - especially below 2200m!

Avalanche danger above 2200m is low, danger below that altitude is moderate. The predominant avalanche problem is wet snow. Lacking cooling during the night and light rain promote naturally releasing small to medium-sized wet loose snow avalanches in steep rocky terrain in all aspects. It is possible that glide snow avalanches start gliding over the smooth ground on steep grass-covered slopes and in forest clearances which can grow to large size in isolated cases.Strong northwesterly wind creates a snowdrift problem at high altitude. Fresh spatially-limited snowdrifts are prone to triggering and can be triggered as small slab avalanches by a single skier. Beware of taking a fall

In general the snowpack has settled well and is compact. On shady high altitude slopes there is often still powder frozen unbonded onto the surface; in wind-exposed places there are frequently wind-crusts. On Wednesday, strong northwesterly wind will generate fresh small snowdrift accumulations. As a result of lacking nocturnal outgoing longwave radiation and light rain the snowpack at intermediate altitude softens and becomes gradually thoroughly wet. As a consequence of superficial penetration of melt water the snowpack forfeits its firmness. The snowpack base has become partly moist which promotes gliding of the snowpack. On sunny slopes the ground is almost bare up to about 1400m.

The snowpack continues to become increasingly wet due to variable mild weather. However, the avalanche danger will not change significantly over the next few days.