Chiemgau Alps East

Rising danger of wet loose-snow avalanches due to solar radiation

Rising danger of wet loose-snow avalanches due to solar radiation

Avalanche danger increases to moderate as the day unfolds. Main problem: wet snow. The snow from the weekend an trigger naturally in extremely steep terrain as small-to-medium sized avalanches due to daytime warming and solar radiation. In addition, particularly in the Allgäu, small-to-medium glide-snow avalanches are possible on steep, smooth grassy slopes. Glide cracks are red flags of this risk. In addition to that, small older snowdrift accumulations at high altitudes can be triggered particularly by large additional loading. Isolated danger zones occur on shady, steel ridgeline slopes. Slab avalanches mostly remain small.

During the nocturnal hours in most places, a melt-freeze crust forms which is not capable of bearing loads, then thaws as soon as the sun comes out. The weekend snowfall lies deposited atop a stable old snowpack fundament or on bare ground and becomes wet in the sunshine, which reinforces loose-snow avalanches and gliding snowpack movements. There is little snow up to above intermediate altitudes, sunny slopes are now bare especially in the Prealps. At high altitudes the snowdrifts are rapidly settling and consolidating.

In early morning: melt-freeze crusts. As the day progresses: rising danger of wet avalanches.