Werdenfels Alps

Fresh snowdrifts very prone to triggering at high altitude

Fresh snowdrifts very prone to triggering at high altitude

Avalanche danger above 1800 m is moderate; below that altitude danger is low. Fresh snowdrifts are the main problem. Slab avalanches of medium size can be triggered even by minimum additional loading in places, i.e. from one sole skier. Many avalanche prone locations are located in steep ridgeline terrain in N/E/SW aspects, in wind-loaded gullies and bowls as well as below protruberances in the terrain. With ascending altitude, the number of avalanche prone locations tends to increase, the avalanches can grow larger, and they can be triggered more easily.

A few centimeters of fresh snow are deposited atop a wind-impacted snowpack. Ridges and crests have been blown bare down to the snowpack base, with only an icy crust left. In leeward zones, partly large-sized snowdrift accumulations were generated. Embedded in them are trigger-sensitive boundary layers consisting of faceted crystals that were able to form while precipitation paused. At higher altitudes and on shady slopes the snowpack base is very compact. At low altitudes and on sunny slopes, the ground is blanketed by a thin powder snow cover.

Quiet winter weather. Avalanche danger will gradually diminish over the next few days.