Chiemgau Alps East

Snowdrifts above the treeline still trigger-sensitive and often blanketed by new snow.

Snowdrifts above the treeline still trigger-sensitive and often blanketed by new snow.

Avalanche danger above the treeline is moderate; below that altitude danger is low. Main problem: the snowdrifts of the last few days. Small slab avalanches, at higher altitude medium-sized slab avalanches, are partly still triggerable by low additional loading, e.g., a single person engaged in wintersports. Avalanche prone locations are found in steep ridgeline terrain in N/E/SW aspects, in gullies and bowls filled with wind-transported snow and behind terrain protruberances. Size and frequency of the avalanche prone locations increase with ascending altitude. Due to solar radiation, small loose snow avalanches can release naturally in steep rocky terrain and small glide snow avalanches on smooth grass-covered slopes.

A few centimeters of loose fresh snow are blanketing a wind-impacted and partly icy old snowpack, and in places large-scale snowdrift accumulations. Embedded in the snowdrift accumulations are trigger-sensitive boundary layers consisting of faceted crystals that were able to form while precipitation paused. In particular on south-facing slopes the layers are increasingly bonding. At higher altitudes and on shady slopes the snowpack base is very compact. At lower altitudes and on sunny slopes, a thin layer of powdry snow is found directly on the ground.

Due to solar radiation and calm weather the avalanche danger will decrease further in the next few days.