Allgäu Alps Central

Fresh trigger-sensitive snowdrifts

Fresh trigger-sensitive snowdrifts

Avalanche danger above the treeline is moderate, danger below that altitude is low. Main problem: overnight and during the course of the day, snowdrift accumulations are being generated. Small slab avalanches can be triggered even by minimum additional loading, i.e. the weight of one sole skier. Many danger zones come about above the treeline in steep ridgeline terrain in all aspects as well as in freshly wind-loaded gullies and bowls. In forest clearances and on smooth grassy slopes which have not yet discharged, isolated glide-snow avalanches can trigger naturally. They are generally small-sized, in isolated cases can reach medium size.

As the result of significantly lower temperatures, rainfall will turn to snowfall during the night. Between up to 30 cm of fresh snow is anticipated, accompanied by strong winds from varying directions which will transport the snow above the timberline and deposited atop old snowpack surfaces where bonding will be poor. The old snowpack fundament is thoroughly wet at mid-level up to the treeline. Above the treeline, the snow will fall on a melt-freeze crust which in some places is capable of bearing loads. At high altitudes the snowpack is stable, it is melt-freeze encrusted and iced-over in some places.

Lower temperatures, only minor amounts of new snow. Avalanche danger will not change significantly in the next few days.