Berchtesgaden Alps

All in all, between 50 cm and 100 cm of fresh snow and storm

All in all, between 50 cm and 100 cm of fresh snow and storm

Avalanche danger above 2000 m is high, below that altitude it is considerable. Main problem: fresh snowdrifts. In many places slab avalanches can release spontaneously or by low additional loading; they can grow to large size. Avalanche prone locations are found in steep terrain in all aspects, also distant from ridgelines, in particular below protuberances and in gullies and bowls. In addition, the new snow can also trigger naturally as loose snow avalanches in very steep and extremely steep terrain. At high altitudes, loose snow avalanches can reach large size.

As a consequence of heavy snowfall and storm, snowdrift accumulations will grow larger during Thursday night. The snowdrifts have bonded only poorly with the old snowpack surface. On the sunny side, packed snowdrift masses are in many places found atop a melt-freeze crust; on the shady side atop a wind crust, atop older or more recent packed snowdrift masses or powder snow. In many places graupel is embedded between the near surface layers. The critical snow volume is reached, resulting in a loss of stability and as a consequence avalanche can release spontaneously.

Due to further snowfalls and plenty of wind the avalanche danger will increase by Saturday.