Chiemgau Alps East

Large-magnitude avalanches can trigger naturally. Beware snow breakage in wooded zones and huge sink-in depths.

Large-magnitude avalanches can trigger naturally. Beware snow breakage in wooded zones and huge sink-in depths.

Considerable avalanche danger prevails in the Bavarian Alps. Main problem: the fresh snow can trigger naturally in steep rocky terrain under the influence of solar radiation or elsewhere from the weight of one sole person. Danger zones occur on steep slopes in all aspects, especially above 1600 m. Huge sink-in depths are indicators of danger. Avalanches can grow to large size in places and place exposed transportation routes at risk. At intermediate altitudes, glide-snow avalanches can trigger naturally on steep grass-covered slopes and in forest lanes. Glide cracks are indicators of danger.

There has been 50-70 cm of fresh snow registered, deposited loosely atop a well settled old snowpack. In summit zones of the eastern regions and pre-Alps, the snow is often like a slab, with solar radiation it will settle and increasingly bond to the fresh snow also on south-facing slopes. Bonding of fresh snow to old snow at higher altitudes is frequently poor, especially where a thin melt-freeze crust was blanketed. Furthermore, trigger-sensitive intermediate layers inside the fresh fallen snow are a threat locally, also ground-level weak layers of faceted crystals at high altitudes. At intermediate altitudes the snowpack base is often wet; gliding movements are the consequence. Overall snow depths are significantly above average for this juncture of the season.

The fresh fallen snow will settle and stabilize over the next few days. Starting on Sunday evening, new snowdrift accumulations will be generated.