Chiemgau Alps East

Snowdrift accumulations prone to triggering. Caution: Risk of falling on icy snowpack surface!

Snowdrift accumulations prone to triggering. Caution: Risk of falling on icy snowpack surface!

The avalanche danger remains moderate above 1600m; below it is low. Fresh snowdrifts are the main problem. Small slab avalanches, at higher altitude also medium-sized slab avalanches, can be triggered even by minimum additional loading in places, i.e. from one sole skier. Avalanche prone locations are found in steep ridgeline terrain in N/E/SW aspects, in wind-loaded gullies and bowls, below terrain protruberances as well as in wind-loaded forest ailes in forest transition zones.

A few centimeters of fresh snow were deposited atop a wind-impacted snowpack. Ridges and crests have been blown almost bare down to the snowpack base, with only an icy crust left. In leeward zones, partly large-sized snowdrift accumulations were generated. Embedded in them are trigger-sensitive boundary layers consisting of faceted crystals that were able to form while precipitation paused - or else graupel. At higher altitudes and on shady slopes the snowpack base is very compact. At low altitudes and on sunny slopes, the ground is thinly blanketed by a powdry snow.

Quiet winter weather. Avalanche danger will gradually diminish over the next few days.