Allgäu Alps West

Caution: beyond secured ski areas, considerable avalanche danger widespread

Caution: beyond secured ski areas, considerable avalanche danger widespread

Avalanche danger above 1800m is considerable, below that altitude danger is moderate. Fresh snow and far-reaching snowdrift accumulations are easily triggered in all aspects in many places. Slabs can be triggered by minimum additional loading and grow to medium-to-large sized releases. Settling noises when treading the snowpack can indicate imminent danger. In particular on west, north and east-facing slopes, avalanches can fracture down to ground level layers and grow to large size. On very steep sunny grass-covered slopes, glide-snow avalanches can slide downhill and reach medium size. Due to solar radiation, loose-snow avalanches can be expected in steep rocky terrain.

The frequently storm-strength NW winds have transported the fresh snow, generated large-sized trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations in many places. The fresh fallen snow has already settled somewhat. Inside the fresh snow and drifts are weak intermediate layers and graupel. Beneath a melt-freeze crust in the upper third of the old snowpack there are often faceted crystals. The mid-section of the snowpack consists of well-settled, compact layers which on shady high-altitude slopes blanket a poorly structured old snowpack fundament.

Predominantly sunny but wintery cold mountain weather will set in. Only a few clouds will pass through at high altitude, in the evening cloud cover will move in with the next perturbance. Temperature at 2000m: from -9 to -6 degrees; at 3000m: -10 degrees. Initially moderate NE winds at high altitude, during the daytime mostly light.

Avalanche danger is not expected to change significantly.