Allgäu Alps West

Considerable avalanche danger at high altitudes due to fresh snow and drifts

Considerable avalanche danger at high altitudes due to fresh snow and drifts

Fresh fallen snow are increasingly prone to triggering with ascending altitude, can be triggered as a slab or a loose-snow avalanche even by one sole skier, esp. near ridgelines and in wind-loaded gullies and bowls. Frequency and size of danger zones increase during the day, and with ascending altitude. Naturally triggered: small slides and loose-snow avalanches in very steep terrain.

In the last 24 hours there has been 15-25 cm of fresh snow registered, often amid wind-impact. Fresh snow and drifts are often prone to triggering, lie deposited atop a mostly compact old snowpack surface (on shady high-altitude slopes atop soft layers, poorly bonded). Fresh drifts will be generated at high altitudes which are prone to triggering. Danger zones increase in size and number with ascending altitude, esp. in steep shady terrain at high altitudes there are unfavourable layers inside the snowpack, most of which can be triggered only be large additional loading. At high altitudes, fresh trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations will be generated as of afternoon amid wind-impact. If fractures appear when you step onto the snowpack, that is an indication of danger.

Nocturnal hours: Friday night will be dry, the skies clear or only with few clouds. Saturday: mostly dry in the morning, amid high-altitude clouds. In the afternoon more cloud cover will move in, winds will intensify, snowfall will set in over widespread areas. It is still quite cold for this juncture of the season. At 2000 m: -3 degrees. Light to moderate winds, intensifying in the afternoon, from northwest.

On Sunday, moderate wind influence, snowfall will set in above 900-1300m. On Monday it will turn increasingly sunny and milder. Avalanche danger will remain tense.