Allgäu Alps Central

The major threat stems from glide-snow avalanches.

The major threat stems from glide-snow avalanches.

Avalanche danger above 1500 m is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. Main problem: glide snow. Where there is still enough snow the snowpack can start gliding over the ground at any time. Glide cracks are indicators of such avalanche prone locations. However, they are being blanketed by fresh snow and are therefore difficult to detect. In addition, in places fresh snowdrifts can be triggered as slab avalanches by minimum additional loading at high altitude. Avalanche prone locations are found in steep terrain adjacent to and distant from ridgelines in all aspects, in wind-loaded gullies and bowls and behind protuberances in the terrain. Dry slab avalanches can reach medium size.

At intermediate altitude the snowpack is in most places completely wet. With slowly dropping temperatures it stabilizes superficially. Fresh snowdrifts are generated at high altitudes which can be prone to triggering if deposited atop soft layers. Below 1500 m there is hardly any snow left.

Due to the forecast considerably cooler weather the glide snow danger will slowly recede.