Allgäu Alps Central

Rain up to high altitudes weakens the snowpack; snowdrifts are generated in the highest summit regions.

Rain up to high altitudes weakens the snowpack; snowdrifts are generated in the highest summit regions.

Avalanche danger is considerable. Main problem: wet snow. Wet loose snow and slab avalanches as well as glide snow avalanches can trigger naturally in all aspects in steep rocky terrain, in forests with sparse trees or on smooth grass-covered slopes that have not yet discharged. Avalanches can attain medium to large size, in particular where at high altitude more deeply embedded weak layers are weakened because of water ingress. At highest summit altitudes above 2200 m snowdrift accumulations can be triggered by one sole skier. Avalanche prone locations are found in steep ridgeline terrain in all aspects as well as in wind-loaded gullies and bowls and behind protuberances in the terrain. They increase in frequency and size with ascending altitude. Avalanches can partly grow to large size.

Rising temperatures and rain up to high altitudes will weaken the snowpack. Bordering the ground the snowpack is in many places moist to wet which enhances gliding movements of the snow masses, in particular if additionally rain runs off through open glide cracks. At intermediate altitudes the layers within the snowpack consisting of crusts and loose snow are gradually dissipating. At highest altitudes trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations were generated. These were deposited atop hard wind or melt-freeze crusts or atop a few centimeters of loose new snow. Close to the ground, partly faceted crystals still persist on shady slopes above 2200 m.

The weather will improve and the avalanche situation will become less tense.