Bavarian Prealps East

Fresh snowdrift accumulations at high altitudes in places prone to triggering

Fresh snowdrift accumulations at high altitudes in places prone to triggering

Avalanche danger is moderate. Main problem: wet snow. Loose snow avalanches can release naturally or be triggered by individuals engaged in wintersports in steep rocky terrain, in particular due to solar radiation. Possibility of natural releases of glide snow avalanches on smooth steep grass-covered slopes. Wet avalanches are small to medium-sized. At higher altitudes, snowdrifts are also prone to triggering, in particular in steep ridgeline terrain in W-N-E aspects. These can be triggered as small to medium-sized slabs even by a single skier.

As a consequence of mild temperatures and solar radiation the snow will become superficially moist on Friday, forfeits its firmness and can be released as loose snow avalanches. At higher altitudes, intensifying winds will transport the snow spatially limited. Fresh and older snowdrifts are found atop soft layers and are prone to triggering. In some places at high altitude the uppermost part of the snowpack contains faceted, expansively metamorphosed crystals underneath a melt-freeze crust which can constitute a weak layer. Elsewhere the old snowpack is compact and stable. It is completely moist and wet down to the ground. A wet layer forms at the ground even underneath the new snow that fell atop a bare ground. Gliding movements over smooth ground become possibl.

Avalanche danger changes little.