Chiemgau Alps East

Snowpack by and large stable despite being thoroughly wet.

Snowpack by and large stable despite being thoroughly wet.

Avalanche danger is low. Isolated wet snow and glide snow avalanches are the main problem at intermediate altitudes. These are generally small-sized and can trigger naturally in steep rocky terrain, in steep forest aisles, and on smooth grass-covered slopes still covered by sufficient snow and where no avalanches have yet discharged. With wind becoming increasingly brisk on Tuesday, small scale snowdrift accumulations can be generated during the course of the day that can be triggered easily. Avalanche prone locations are located above the timberline in steep terrain in NW/E/SE aspects adjacent to ridgelines, as well as in gullies and bowls filled with wind-transported snow. Size and number of avalanche prone locations increase with ascending altitude; however, avalanches are mostly small-sized.

Westerly winds will intensify during the day on Tuesday and will generate small, trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations. These are deposited atop hard wind crusts or melt-freeze crusts; in shady higher altitude terrain partly atop a few centimeters of loose snow. On shady slopes, layers consisting of expansively metamorphosed (faceted) poorly bonded crystals are found locally underneath wind or melt-freeze crusts. Below 1500m the distinctive layering within the snowpack with crusts alternating with soft snow layers has mostly disappeared due to the massive penetration of water in the last few days. Here, the snowpack is all in all low in tension and stable. The snowpack is moist to wet down to ground layers; gliding movements of the snow masses cannot be excluded. Skies are only clear in places during the night, therefore, only a thin melt-freeze crust can form. At higher altitudes the snowpack is extremely compact with very low sink-in depths.

Strong rain up to high altitude is forecast by mid-week. Avalanche danger will increase further.