Allgäu Alps Central

Slight daytime cycle of gliding snow/wet snow. Snowpack often trigger-prone at high altitudes.

Slight daytime cycle of gliding snow/wet snow. Snowpack often trigger-prone at high altitudes.

Avalanche danger in the Allgäu is moderate above 1600 m, low below that altitude. Gliding snow is the main problem. On very steep slopes with smooth ground and grass-covered terrain and forest clearances, naturally triggered glide-snow avalanches are possible at any time of day or night. On the Allgäu Main Ridge, glide-snow avalanches can grow to large size, elsewhere maximum medium size. Avoid zones beneath glide cracks. Small-to-medium sized slab avalanches can be triggered by large additional loading. The few danger zones occur in transition from shallow to deep snow, e.g. at entries into steep gullies. Due to solar radiation and mild temperatures, in addition, wet loose-snow avalanches trigger naturally as the day unfolds in steep rocky terrain.

Nocturnal skies on Monday will be mostly clear with good outgoing longwave radiation, forming a melt-freeze crust which is capable of bearing loads. Solar radiation will soften it quickly during the daytime hours. At high altitudes on shady slopes there is often still powder to be found. Older drifts are unlikely to trigger. Soft layer in the uppermost part of the snowpack can be triggered. The old snowpack is thoroughly wet up to 2300 m, sufficiently wet at intermediate altitudes, reinforcing the gliding movements of the entire snowpack. Up to intermediate altitudes the ground is becoming bare of snow.

Avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly.