Werdenfels Alps

End backcountry tours early in the day and heed sink-in depths.

End backcountry tours early in the day and heed sink-in depths.

Above 1600 m avalanche danger rises to considerable during the course of the day; for the rest it moderate. Wet snow is the main problem. Small to medium-sized loose snow avalanches can trigger naturally in very steep terrain, in particular in the afternoon. In addition, wet glide snow avalanches can trigger naturally on steep smooth grassy slopes that have not yet discharged. Releases are mostly medium-sized, but can become large in particular in some places in Allgäu with plenty of snow. Zones below glide cracks should be avoided. Even hiking paths without snow can be subject to the danger of wet or glide snow avalanches releasing in terrain above them.

Depending on the nocturnal cloudiness a melt-freeze crust capable of bearing loads can form at the snowpack surface. High temperatures and solar radiation make it soften swiftly in the morning. As a consequence it forfeits its firmness. Strong warming and solar radiation throughout the day lead to a strong moistening of the snowpack down to deepeest layers even at high altitudes. In particular on east-facing and west-facing slopes above 2400 m and on north-facing slopes above 2200 m water penetrates for the first time deep into the snowpack, and in particular where snow is shallow it seeps down to the ground. This means that the snowpack is wet where it borders the ground up to highest altitudes and in all aspects, thus promoting gliding movements of the snow masses over smooth ground. Below 1600 m there is not much snow left.

Slight decrease in wet and gliding snow danger by the beginning of the week.