Werdenfels Alps

Risks of falling outweigh those of being buried in snow

Risks of falling outweigh those of being buried in snow

Avalanche danger above 1500 m is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. Main risks stem from trigger-sensitive new snow whic on sunny slopes in rocky terrain can trigger naturally even by the weight of one sole skier/boarder on very steep slopes in all aspects, also in forested transition zones. Furthermore, in steep ridgeline terrain, in freshly wind-loaded gullies and bowls and below protruberances there are trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations from place to place. Triggered avalanches are usually small-sized, the danger of falling outweighs that of being buried in snow.

The fresh snow of recent days was deposited atop a melt-freeze encrusted, compact and largely stable old snowpack and at intermediate altitudes is blanketed by a thin ice crust. As a result of solar radiation the fresh snow rapidly forfeits its firmness, particularly on encrusted surfaces. At higher altitudes in the uppermost layers of the snowpack there are intermediate layers which are prone to triggering. All in all, the snowpack depths are below average, at lower altitudes there lacks a solid snow base.

Avalanche danger is expected to recede further amid stable high-pressure front conditions.