Werdenfels Alps

Caution is urged toward snowdrifts because of increasingly brisk winds. Otherwise the snowpack is mostly stable despite being thoroughly wet.

Caution is urged toward snowdrifts because of increasingly brisk winds. Otherwise the snowpack is mostly stable despite being thoroughly wet.

During the course of the day, the avalanche danger will increase from low to moderate above 1800 m. Below 1800 m it is low. With increasingly brisk winds on Tuesday, small scale fresh snowdrift accumulations can be generated during the course of the day which can be triggered by a single skier. Avalanche prone locations are found above the timberline in steep terrain in NW/E/SE aspects adjacent to ridgelines, as well as in gullies and bowls filled with wind-transported snow. They are easily recognizable. They increase in frequency and size with ascending altitude. The avalanches tend to be small. If additionally weak layers that occur in isolated cases on steep shady high altitude slopes are triggered, they can grow to medium size. At intermediate altitudes, in addition isolated mostly small wet snow and glide snow avalanches can release spontaneously in steep rocky terrain, in steep forest aisles or on smooth grass covered slopes with still sufficient snow, where now avalanches have yet discharged.

During the course of the day, westerly winds are intensifying considerably and will generate small trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations. These are deposited atop hard wind crusts or melt-freeze crusts, at high altitude also atop a few centimeters of loose snow. On shady slopes, layers consisting of expansively metamorphosed (faceted) poorly bonded crystals are found locally underneath wind or melt-freeze crusts. Faceted crystals partly still persist close to ground level on shady slopes above 2200m. Below 1500m the distinctive layering within the snowpack with crusts alternating with soft snow layers has mostly disappeared due to the massive penetration of water in the last few days. Here, the snowpack is all in all low in tension and stable. The snowpack is moist to wet down to ground layers; gliding movements of the snow masses cannot be excluded. Skies are only clear in places during the night, therefore, only a thin melt-freeze crust can form.

Strong rain up to high altitude is forecast by mid-week. Avalanche danger will increase further.