Chiemgau Alps East

Fresh snowdrifts very prone to triggering

Fresh snowdrifts very prone to triggering

Avalanche danger above the treeline will increase from moderate to considerable during the day. Fresh snowdrifts are the main problem. Slab avalanches of small-to-medium size can be triggered even by minimum additional loading in places, i.e. from one sole skier. Avalanche prone locations are found above the treeline in steep ridgeline terrain in N/E/S aspects, in freshly wind-loaded gullies and bowls and behind/below protruberances. With ascending altitude, danger zones tend to increase and thus, avalanches can be larger.

Precipitation will set in, westerly winds will intensify, fresh snowdrift accumulations will be generateed which will grow further during the course of the day. They will be deposited atop loose snow layers, sometimes atop surface hoar, and be very prone to triggering. Beneath the loose snow is a melt-freeze crusted old snowpack. At high altitudes in some places, a thin layer of faceted crystals has formed beneath the melt-freeze crust. At intermediate altitudes the old snowpack fundament is largely stable. At lower altitudes, loose snow blankets the wet ground.

The avalanche situation will initially remain tense above the timberline.