Berchtesgaden Alps

Slab avalanches can also reach medium size in the Berchtesgaden Alps.

Slab avalanches can also reach medium size in the Berchtesgaden Alps.

The avalanche risk is moderate above the tree line and low below it. In the steep terrain adjacent to the ridgeline in northern, eastern and southern aspects as well as in gullies and bowls, wind slab can be triggered in some places as a small to medium slab avalanche by a small additional load. In addition to the risk of burial, the risk of being swept away and falling must be taken into account.

The snow from Tuesday lies on a melt-freeze crust or, on the sunny side, up to high altitudes on the ground that has already been covered by snow. In places, the connection to the melt-freeze crust is poor due to embedded surface hoar. Intermediate layers prone to triggering may be present within fresh snowdrift accumulations. At higher and higher altitudes, faceted crystals can be found below the old melt-freeze crust down to the ground.

With stormy westerly winds and some new fallen snow, wind slab will continue to be problematic on Friday.