Chiemgau Alps East

Snowdrift accumulations prone to triggering!

Snowdrift accumulations prone to triggering!

Avalanche danger is considerable. Main problem: fresh snowdrifts. Slab avalanches can even be triggered by minimum additional loading such as a single skier. Avalanche prone locations are found in steep wind-loaded terrain in all aspects, also distant from ridgelines, in particular below protuberances and in gullies and bowls. At higher altitude avalanches can grow to large size. In addition, new snow can trigger naturally in the form of small or medium-sized loose snow avalanches in steep rocky terrain.

Snowdrift accumulations continue to grow as a consequence of storm and snowfall. They have bonded only poorly with the old snowpack surface. On the shady side the snowdrifts were deposited atop wind crusts or powder snow. On the sunny side the packed snowdrift masses have frequently accumulated atop a melt-freeze crust underneath which faceted crystals have formed. In many places, graupel is embedded close to the surface and also more deeply in the packed snowdrift masses. Wind-exposed areas are often blown utterly bare down to the ground.

Depending on the amounts of precipitation the avalanche danger can increase further.