Werdenfels Alps

Snowdrifts at higher altitudes easily triggerable!

Snowdrifts at higher altitudes easily triggerable!

Avalanche danger above 2000 m is considerable, below that altitude it is initially moderate but rises to considerable during the course of the day. The main problem stems from older snowdrift accumulations which can be triggered as slab avalanches by a single person engaged in snow sports. Avalanche prone locations are found in partiuclar in ridglineline steep terrain in N/E/SW aspects, but also behind abrupt changes in the terrain distant from ridgelines as well as in wind-loaded gullies and bowls. Avalanches can grow to dangerously large size. Size and frequency of avalanche prone locations increase with ascending altitude. The danger of naturally triggering wet loose snow and slab avalanches in steep rocky intermediate altitude terrain and wind-loaded starting zones increases during the course of the day. Avalanches can in isolated cases grow to large size. On steep smooth grass-covered slopes the snowpack can also slide over the ground, especially where the ground has been bare before the recent snowfall. Glide snow avalanches can grow to medium size. Therefore, stay clear of terrain below glide cracks.

Between 20 cm and 30 cm of new snow are deposited with little internal tension on extensive older snowdrift accumulations which makes them difficult to detect. These are prone to triggering, mainly as a consequence of weak intermediate layers that formed while precipitations paused and as a consequence of temperature variations within the snowpack as well as due to embedded graupel. During the course of the day, rainfall gradually moistens the uppermost layers of the snowpack and leads to a loss of firmness at the boundary layers. In the valleys and at intermediate altitudes the new snow is deposited atop a mostly shallow moist old snowpack or directly on the bare ground.

The next few days will be variable; rainfall up to high altitudes. Winds will become brisker. The avalanche danger remains tense.