Werdenfels Alps

At high altitude increasing danger of naturally triggered wet loose snow avalanches

At high altitude increasing danger of naturally triggered wet loose snow avalanches

Avalanche danger above 1600 m is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. Main problem: wet snow. Wet loose snow avalanches can release spontaneously in steep rocky terrain due to sunshine and warming. Wherever there is still enough snow, in addition possibility of glide snow avalanches triggering naturally in steep terrain with smooth ground. Avalanches are generally small to medium-sized.

As a result of the heavy rainfall during the last few days many small and medium-sized loose snow and glide snow avalanches were triggered naturally. In the Bavarian Alpine region the snowpack is thoroughly moist, at intermediate altitude frequently wet down to the ground, and as a consequence it forfeits its firmness. The snowpack has strongly receded due to the rain. North-facing the ground has become bare up to 1400 m, south-facing up to intermediate altitude summit regions. At high altitudes above 2400 m isolated snowdrift accumulations have bonded well and settled. A thin melt-freeze crusts forms under clear nocturnal skies on Saturday night which softens fast during the day. The penetration of moistness into the snowpack will then also continue at high altitudes.

During the next few days the weather will stay variable and mild. The wet snow problem will decrease only slowly.