Chiemgau Alps East

Heed trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations

Heed trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations

Avalanche danger in the Bavarian Alps is low in the morning, rises to moderate above the treeline during the course of the day. The problem: fresh snowdrifts. Above the treeline in steep ridgeline terrain in N7E7SW aspects and in gullies and bowls, more and larger snowdrift accumulations are being formed. They can often be triggered by minimum additional loading, e.g. one single skier. Potential avalanches are mostly small-sized, but in the latter part of the day can grow to medium size.

The old snowpack surface consists of powder snow or older snowdrifts, often with wind-crusts or melt-freeze crusts. During the course of the day, up to 20 cm of snowfall is possible which will be transported by strong NW winds. The freshly generated snowdrifts are often poorly bonded with the old snowpack surface. The snowpack itself has settled well and is stable. Overall its depth is below average, and at low altitudes there is no longer a solid base.

Avalanche danger could rise further as the weekend nears, depending on amounts of new snow.