Chiemgau Alps East

Critical amount of fresh snow will be reached during the day: increased avalanche danger

Critical amount of fresh snow will be reached during the day: increased avalanche danger

Avalanche danger will increase from considerable to high during the course of the day, at lower altitudes from moderate to considerable. The main problem: trigger-sensitive fresh snow. It can trigger naturally as loose-snow avalanches or slab avalanches or very easily be set off by winter sports enthusiasts. Loose-snow avalanches are possible on steep slopes in all aspects, particularly zones below steep rocky terrain. Slab avalanches can trigger naturally from the loading of the fresh fallen snow on many steep slopes in all aspects, or else be triggered by a skier/boarder, in gullies, bowls and below protruberances. With increasing altitude and as the day unfolds, the danger zones will become more numerous. Above the treeline, even large-sized avalanches can be expected.

A half-metre of fresh snow, by Saturday evening more is expected, deposited atop a powdery surface, poorly bonded with it. Wind from westerly directions will transport the snow far-reachingly, the new drifts will blanket the older ones. 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.

With further snowfall and wind, avalanche danger levels will remain tense to start with.