Bavarian Prealps East

Heightened avalanche danger due to fresh snow and wind

Heightened avalanche danger due to fresh snow and wind

Avalanche danger above 1500 m is considerable, below that altitude danger is moderate. Problem: fresh snowdrifts. They can trigger as loose-snow avalanches naturally or be triggered by a skier/boarder particujlarly in steep rocky terrain. Slabs are triggerable in all aspects near ridgelines, in gullies and bowls and below protruberances. With ascending altitude further east and as the day unfolds, the danger zones will become more numerous. Large-sized avalanches cannot be ruled out.

The forecast fresh snow will be deposited atop powdery layers and will bond poorly. Westerly winds will transport the snow, thus cover older snowdrifts. All in all, the snow on leeward slopes and in wind-loaded gullies and bowls will mount up quickly. Weak intermediate layers formed during the period without precipitation, they now lie beneath the fresh fallen snow. In addition, in forest transition zones there is a thin ice layer which has been blanketed by fresh snow, under which there are faceted crystals.

As a result of snowfall and wind, the avalanche situation will remain tense, before receding again next week.