Chiemgau Alps East

Number of avalanche prone locations increases with ascending altitude; difficult to recognize.

Number of avalanche prone locations increases with ascending altitude; difficult to recognize.

Avalanche danger above 1500 m is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. The main problem is fresh snow which can in places be triggered as slab avalanches even by low additional loading such as by a single skier. Avalanche prone locations are found in steep terrain in all aspects. Slab avalanches can reach medium size. The new snow can trigger naturally as small loose snow avalanches in extremely steep rocky and rugged terrain. There is a risk that small to medium-sized glide snow avalanches release spontaneously on very steep slopes over smooth ground.

During Thursday night the new fallen snow was impacted by southwesterly wind. However, wind abated during the snowfall. Far up into intermediate altitudes the snow was deposited atop a previously bare ground. In places bonding with the old snow is poor. At high altitudes there are in places also trigger-sensitive intermediate layers embedded in the snowdrifts of Friday. Where winds intensify locally, small snowdrifts accumulate during the course of the day that are prone to triggering.Warming and solar radiation are triggers for loose snow avalanches. The snowpack base is wet which promotes gliding of the snowpack on steep slopes over smooth ground. Gliding snow activity increases somewhat following rainfall on Thursday.

As a consequence of intensifying southwesterly winds the danger of dry slabs will increase on Sunday.