Werdenfels Alps

Caution: trigger-sensitive fresh snow

Caution: trigger-sensitive fresh snow

Main problem: wind-ranging fresh snow. Due to the burden of this snow on the old snowpack surface and settling impulses from solar radiation tomorrow (Friday), large-sized loosely-packed and slab avalanches could trigger naturally. In steep rocky terrain, medium sized loosely-packed avalanches could trigger naturally as a result of solar radiation In addition, at high altitude, ground-level weak layers of expansively metamorphosed (faceted) crystals could trigger by large additional loading and in transition zones from deep to shallow snow.

Since yesterday there has been 20-40 cm of fresh snow registered. Moderate strength NW winds have consolidated the snow slightly, deposited it atop an old snowpack surface of expansively metamorphosed (faceted) crystals or atop loose, cold intermediate layers of the fresh snow itself. Bonding of these layers is often inadequate. Older drifts are covered, lie bonded atop a loosely-packed cold layer and continue to be trigger-sensitive. At high altitudes in all aspects there are ground-level weak layers of faceted crystals. These can be triggered, particularly in places where the snow is shallow.

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