Chiemgau Alps East

Caution: trigger-sensitive fresh snowdrift accumulations

Caution: trigger-sensitive fresh snowdrift accumulations

Main problem: wind-ranging fresh snowdrifts. Danger zones are found in ridgeline N/E/SW steep terrain and in freshly wind-loaded gullies and bowls. Small-to-medium slab avalanches can be triggered even by minimum additional loading, i.e. the weight of one sole skier. In addition, at high altitude ground-level weak layers in the old snow can be triggered by large additional loading, as well as transitions from deep to shallow snow. In steep rocky terrain in case of solar radiation, naturally triggered small loose-snow avalanches can be expected.

Since yesterday there has been 50-70 cm of fresh snow registered, lightly bonded with the surface hoar on the snowpack surface, in some places atop an expansively metamorphosed old snowpack surface. Bonding of the layers is poor. Older drifts are covered, lie bonded atop a loosely-packed, cold layer and are still prone to triggering. At high altitudes in all aspects there are ground-level weak layers of faceted crystals, easily triggered in places where the snow is shallow.

Avalanche danger levels are not expected to recede in the next few days.