Werdenfels Alps

Snowdrift accumulations still prone to triggering and often blanketed by fresh snow.

Snowdrift accumulations still prone to triggering and often blanketed by fresh snow.

The avalanche danger remains moderate above 1800m; below it is low. Main problem: the snowdrifts of the last few days. Slab avalanches of medium size can be triggered by minimum additional loading in places, e.g., by one sole person engaged in wintersports. Avalanche prone locations are found above 1800 m on steep slopes adjacent to ridgelines in N/E/SW aspects, in wind-loaded gullies and bowls and behind terrain protuberances. Size and frequency of avalanche prone locations increase with ascending altitude. Possibility of small loose snow avalanches releasing naturally in steep rocky terrain due to solar radiation.

A few centimeters of loose fresh snow are blanketing a wind-impacted and partly icy old snowpack, and locally large-scale snowdrift accumulations. Embedded in the snowdrift accumulations are trigger-sensitive boundary layers consisting of faceted crystals that were able to form while precipitation paused. In particular on south-facing slopes the layers are increasingly bonding. At higher altitudes and on shady slopes the snowpack base is very compact. At lower altitudes and on sunny slopes, a thin layer of powdry snow is found directly on the ground.

Due to solar radiation and calm weather the avalanche danger will decrease further in the next few days.