Chiemgau Alps East

Inside snowdrifts at high altitudes, trigger-sensitive areas persist

Inside snowdrifts at high altitudes, trigger-sensitive areas persist

Avalanche danger is moderate. Main problem: trigger-sensitive intermediate layers in the old snow. Some avalanche prone locations occur in steep ridgeline teerrain in N/E/SE aspects, in wind-loaded gullies and bowls. In these zones, particularly large additional loading (e.g. a group without distances) can trigger even large-sized slab avalanches. Particularly in transitions from deep to shallow snow, i.e. at entries into wind-loaded gullies, one single skier can trigger more deeply embedded layers inside the snowpack. Due to daytime warming and solar radiation, naturally triggered medium-sized loose-snow avalanches can be expected on sunny, steep rocky slopes. On steep grass-covered slopes and in sparsely wooded zones, the snowpack as a whole can glide over the ground.

Warmth and solar radiation have helped the snowpack to settle and consolidate the upper layers. All in all, the snowpack shows pronounced effects of wind, crests and ridges are windblown, leewide gullies and bowls are filled to the brim with drifts. Bonding of wide-ranging drifts with the wind-crusts and melt-freeze crusts and powder snow of the old snowpack is insufficient. Snowdrift accumulations are still prone to triggering in places. In addition, inside the old snowpack in all aspects are expansively metamorphosed (faceted) crystals near a thin melt-freeze crust. This weak layer is quite pronounced at high altitudes and lies, depending on wind impact, nearer to the surface or deeper down beneath the deep drifts. Up to higher altitudes the snowpack is at least superficially moist. During the night, a melt-freeze crust forms, which on Thursday will soften up. Due to superficial moistening, the snowpack forfeits its firmness.

On Friday, a weak cold front will bring the springlike temperatures to an end with a bit of fresh snowfall. Avalanche danger levels will relax further on the weekend, with cooler temperatures.