Werdenfels Alps

Wet snow problem

Wet snow problem

Avalanche danger above 2000 m is considerable, below that altitude danger is low. Main problem: the wet snow. In all aspects, moist or wet loose-snow avalanches of medium size can trigger naturally in extremely steep terrain. At high altitudes avalanche activity is high. On steep slopes where the ground is smooth, glide-snow avalanches are possible. There is little snow on the ground at lower altitudes, avalanches will remain small- In addition, fresh and older snowdrift accumulations at high altitudes can be triggered by large additional loading and grow to medium size. Danger zones are found mostly in N/E/SE aspects, mostly near to ridgelines and in wind-loaded gullies and bowls.

Beneath clear nighttime skies on Sunday night a melt-freeze crust formed which will soften up beneath the solar radiation on Monday. The snowpack is thoroughly wet in some places. More deeply embedded weak layers are dissolving. The drifts from this recent period of precipitation are settling and bonding. At intermediate altitudes the snowpack is thoroughly wet, the ground is becoming bare of snow.

Avalanche danger will decrease as temperatures drop.