Chiemgau Alps East

Pay heed to danger of taking a fall on icy surfaces!

Pay heed to danger of taking a fall on icy surfaces!

Avalanche danger is low. Main problem: glide snow. Possibility of isolated glide snow avalanches on steep slopes with smooth ground and still enough snow. They can release spontaneously in any aspect and at any time of day or night and tend to remain small. Glide cracks indicate danger zones. In isolated cases small slabs can still be triggered adjacent to ridges and on the shady side in very steep high altitude terrain, as a rule only by large additional loading such as a person walking on foot or a group of skiers.

With clear skies during Wednesday night, a melt-freeze crust can form that is capable of bearing loads. The crust softens slowly during the course of day; in the shade it will mostly stay icy. Underneath the melt-freeze crust the snowpack is thoroughly moist and frequently wet down to the ground. Therefore, gliding movements over smooth ground are possible. On very steep shady slopes weak layers can still be found in isolated cases. Below 1400 m the ground is becoming bare. In the Bavarian Alps it is now almost impossible to go backcountry skiing without having to carry the skis for part of the route.

Avalanche danger is not expected to change significantly until Friday.