Chiemgau Alps East

Mild temperatures, wet avalanches

Mild temperatures, wet avalanches

Avalanche danger is low. Main problem: wet snow. As a consequence of heat penetration it is to be expected that wet loose snow avalanches trigger in extremely steep rocky and rugged terrain. Avalanches can be triggered by a single person engaged in wintersports also in summit areas. Releases are mostly small. Heed danger of being swept along. It is possible that small glide snow avalanches release spontaneously on very steep slopes over smooth ground.

Westerly winds transported the little new snow of the last few days. In many places the snowdrifts were deposited atop a moist old snowpack surface. Due to the mild temperatures the snow moistens fast and forfeits its firmness. The snowpack is predominantly thoroughly wet. All in all it is compact and, by and large, stable. On steep slopes the wet snowpack base promotes gliding of the snowpack. There is barely any snow left below 1500 m.

Weather will stay mild until Friday. Avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly.