Chiemgau Alps East

Near ridges, small trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations

Near ridges, small trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations

Avalanche danger above the treeline is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. Main problem: trigger-sensitive intermediate layers in the old snow. Avalanche prone locations are found on steep W/N/E facing slopes. Frequency and size increase with ascending altitude. Medium-sized slab avalanches can sometimes be triggered even by the weight of one sole skier, e.g. in spots where the snow is shally as at entries into wind-loaded gullies or when the triggering of a small snowdrift patch fractures down to deeper layers. Avalanches can in isolated cases grow to large size. The small snowdrift accumulations are found in steep ridgeline terrain on NE/E/S facing slopes and are easy to trigger above the treeline as medium sized slab avalanches. In addition, at intermediate altitudes medium glide-snow avalanches are possible on steep, grass-covered slopes.

A small amount of fresh snow and intensifying winds during the daytime from the northwest will generate small trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations whichwill be deposited atop loose layers of snow. Inside the old snowpack are old drifted masses from the latest period of precipitation, locally faceted crystals beneath a melt-freeze crust. This weak layer becomes more pronounced with ascending altitude and lies, depending on recent snow distribution, dangerously near the upper surface. The danger is undetectable above the snowpack. At lower altitudes and on sunny slopes the snowpack is often wet down to the ground, which favors gliding snow movements.

With additional snowfall and strong winds, the snowdrift problem will intensify over the coming days.