Werdenfels Alps

The drifting snow situation is still tricky.

The drifting snow situation is still tricky.

The avalanche risk is considerable above the tree line and moderate below it. The main problem is wind slab avalanches. Slab avalanches can be triggered by individual winter sports enthusiasts. Avalanche prone locations can be found adjacent to ridgelines and distant from ridgelines on steep slopes of all aspects, behind slope discontinuities and in gullies and bowls, but sometimes also in forest aisles and clearings. They increase in number and size with altitude. Above 1800 m, avalanches on very steep shady slopes can also tear through to deeper weak layers in the old snowpack and occasionally become large. Cracks when stepping on the snowpack and booming noises indicate danger.

Small to medium-sized, spontaneous loose snow avalanches are possible from the steep terrain interspersed with rocks.

There has been up to half a metre of new fallen snow in the last few days. The snow was transported by stormy winds from westerly directions and extensive snowdrift accumulations prone to triggering have formed. They lie on soft layers of snow, graupel or surface hoar. In the upper part of the old snowpack, prone to triggering layers are embedded in thin layers of harsh snow in places. Above 1800 m, on shady slopes, there are deeper weak layers of faceted crystals in the snowpack. The snow depths vary greatly across the terrain due to the strong winds.

The avalanche situation remains tense.