Allgäu Alps Central

Persistent weak layer in old snow at higher altitudes. In addition: Avoid zones below glide cracks.

Persistent weak layer in old snow at higher altitudes. In addition: Avoid zones below glide cracks.

Avalanche danger above 1800 m is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. Weak layers in the old snowpack are the main problem. Slab avalanches can trigger especially by large additional loading and in transition from shall to deep snow. Danger zones occur in steep ridgeline terrain, in particular in shady aspects, near ridgelines, in steep high altitude terrain and in shallow snow. Avalanches can grow to medium size. In addition, glide-snow avalanches can release spontaneously at any time of day or night. This relates in primarily to steep grass-covered slopes, forest aisles, and rock slabs on the sunny side; but increasingly also to the shady side. At high altitudes they can reach medium size.

On the shady side the snow is still dry, close to ridges superficially impacted by wind. In places, a trigger-sensitive weak layers persists in the snowpack underneath a melt-freeze crust On ridges there are also isolated weak layers consisting of faceted crystals under older accumulated snowdrift masses. At low altitudes the snowpack is shallow, moist down to the ground. Gliding movements over smooth grass-covered slopes cannot be excluded, especially at high altitudes where there is more snow.

As wind intensifies by mid-week, small-scale snowdrifts can accumulate that are prone to triggering.