Chiemgau Alps East

Danger zones often difficult to recognize in the old snow. Snowpack analysis offers insights.

Danger zones often difficult to recognize in the old snow. Snowpack analysis offers insights.

Avalanche danger above 1400 m is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. Main problem: in the old snowpack layers. Slab avalanches can trigger in transitions from shallow to deep snow, e.g. at entries into steep gullies and bowls or behind abrupt discontinuities in the terrain by the weight of one sole skier. Elsewhere, older snowdrifts can be triggered mostly by large additional loading. Frequency and spread of danger zones increase with ascending altitude. Avalanche can become large-sized at high altitudes. In addition, due to easterly winds fresh snowdrift accumulations can be generated which are easily triggered as slab avalanches. Elsewhere, isolated small glide-snow avalanches are possible on steep grass-covered slopes.

As easterly winds intensify, small fresh snowdrift accumulations can be generated in ridgeline terrain, often deposited atop surface hoar - they are prone to triggering. Elsewhere a few cm of fresh snow blankets older snowdrifts which have already settled and bonded. At high altitudes there are thin melt-freeze crusts near the older drifts in the snwpack, also weak faceted layers have persisted. Particularly in zones where the snow is shallow, these layers can still be triggered.

Avalanche danger is expected to diminish over the next few days.