Werdenfels Alps

Fresh snowdrifts very prone to triggering

Fresh snowdrifts very prone to triggering

Avalanche danger above the treeline is considerable, below that altitude danger is low. Fresh snowdrifts are the main problem. Slab avalanches of small-to-medium size can be triggered even by minimum additional loading in places, i.e. from one sole skier. Avalanche prone locations are found above the treeline in steep ridgeline terrain in N/E/S aspects, in freshly wind-loaded gullies and bowls and behind/below protruberances. In the Allgäu on steep grass-covered slopes which have not yet discharged and in forest clearances, isolated mall-to-medium sized glide-snow avalanches can trigger.

Precipitation will set in, westerly winds will intensify, new snowdrift accumulations will be generated extensively. They will be deposited atop loose layers with some surface hoar and thus, be quite prone to triggering. Beneath the loose snow is a melt-freeze encrusted old snowpack. At high altitudes a thin layer of faceted crystals has formed beneath the melt-freeze crust. At intermediate altitudes the old snowpack fundament is largely stable. At low altitudes the loose snow blankets wet ground.

Avalanche danger above the timberline is expected to remain tense.