Allgäu Alps West

Freshly generated snowdrifts atop unfavorable old snowpack

Freshly generated snowdrifts atop unfavorable old snowpack

Freshly generated snowdrift accumulations can still be triggered, particularly in ridgeline terrain, gullies and bowls in all aspects. Due to increasing winds and fresh snowfall, frequency of danger zones will increase during the daytime hours and with ascending altitude. Marked weak layers in the old snowpack can be triggered by one single winter sports enthusiast, particularly on steep, little skied on slopes. The danger zones are not visible. Triggered avalanches can grow to medium size. Whumpf noises and fractures when treading on the surface are alarm signals. Activities in backcountry demand careful evaluation of the terrrain and assessment of the dangers. In zones where there is rain impact, wet snowslides and avalanches are possible.

Fresh snow and drifts lie deposited on top of an often melt-freeze encrusted snowpack surface, otherwise atop surface hoar. Especially on steep shady slopes, the frequently unfavorable base is poorly-to-moderately consolidated. In zones with rain impact, the snowpack will be temporarily weakened.

Starting at midday skies will cloud over, persistent precipitation will often follow in the western barrier cloud regions. Snowfall level will descend from 1600m down to about 1100m. Temperature at 2000m: dropping from 0 to -3 degrees; at 3000m: -9 degrees. Brisk to strong-velocity southwesterly winds at high altitudes, later shifting to westerly and intensifying to storm strength.

As a result of further fresh snowfall and wind, avalanche danger will increase somewhat. Triggerings in the old snow are still possible.