Chiemgau Alps East

Naturally triggered loose-snow avalanches possible

Naturally triggered loose-snow avalanches possible

Avalanche is moderate. Main problem: the fresh snow. In extremely steep terrain in all aspects, loose-snow avalanches can trigger naturally, even reach large size at high altitudes. In wind-exposed terrain in all aspects, especially in steep ridgeline terrain and wind-loaded steep gullies and bowls, slab avalanches can be triggered even by minimum additional loading. Frequency and size of danger zones increase with ascending altitude.In addition, at intermediate altitudes on slopes where the ground is smooth, isolated small-to-medium glide-snow avalanches can trigger naturally.

The snowfall continues. In wind-exposed zones, variably and strong gusty winds are generating trigger-sensitive intermediate layers inside the freshly generated snowdrift accumulations. At high altitudes in the Berchtesgadener Alps on shady slopes, bonding to the old snowpack surface is problematic, elsewhere bonding is good, the snowpack stable. The snowpack is thoroughly wet up to intermediate altitudes, often wet down to the ground. At low altitudes, on south-facing slopes up to intermediate altitudes the snowfall is being deposited on bare ground.

As temperatures rise next week, the wet-snow problem will again come to the forefront.