Werdenfels Alps

Lots of new fallen snow: avalanches can get big.

Lots of new fallen snow: avalanches can get big.

The avalanche risk is high above the tree line and moderate below it. The main problem is new fallen snow. The many avalanche prone locations are in steep terrain adjacent to ridgelines in all aspects, behind slope discontinuities and in gullies and bowls. Slab and loose snow avalanches can detach themselves and become large.

In the Allgäu in particular, gliding avalanches can detach themselves on previously apery, very steep meadow slopes. They can reach medium size.

Around 50 cm of new fallen snow has already fallen locally. The snowfall was accompanied in places by strong, sometimes gale-force winds from the north-west. It continues to snow. The large amount of new and drifting snow is lying on soft snow on the northern sides of higher elevations and is prone to triggering. Weak layers prone to triggering are also embedded within the wind slab. The snowdrift accumulations are large and partly covered by new fallen snow. In the higher elevations, weak layers of faceted crystals can be found near the surface. Otherwise, the underlying old snowpack is generally well stabilised. On the southern slopes, the new fallen snow covers the previously apery ground and begins to glide snow.

The avalanche danger will decrease somewhat after the fresh snowfall.