Chiemgau Alps East

Fresh snowdrifts at higher altitudes prone to triggering!

Fresh snowdrifts at higher altitudes prone to triggering!

Avalanche danger above 1500 m is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. The main problem: fresh trigger sensitive snowdrifts. They can be triggered by a single person as slab avalanches, in particular close to ridges in N/E/S aspects and in wind-loaded gullies and bowls. Where precipitation is heaviest, slabs can grow to medium size. In places where lower quantities of new snow are falling the danger of taking a fall and getting injured prevails. In addition, isolated small loose snow avalanches can release naturally in very steep terrain. On smooth grass-covered slopes and in sparsely wooded zones small to medium-sized glide snow avalanches can release and glide over the ground.

The forecast new snow will fall accompanied by strong westerly winds and cold temperatures and will be deposited atop a warm old snowpack surface. At higher altitudes the fresh snowdrifts accumulate atop thin soft layers. At intermediate altitude the old snowpack is mostly wet down to the ground, whereas it is by and large compact and stable at high altitude. Below 1400 m the new snow is mostly deposited atop a previously bare and wet ground.

Following further snowfall the avalanche danger at higher altitudes can increase further in the next few days.