Werdenfels Alps

Snowdrifts easily recognizable for experienced individuals - should be avoided

Snowdrifts easily recognizable for experienced individuals - should be avoided

Above the timberline avalanche danger on the main Allgäu ridge and in the Ammergau, Werdenfels and Berchtesgaden Alps is considerable; below that altitude it is low. Fresh snowdrifts are the main problem. Avalanche prone locations occur esp. in steep ridgeline terrain on S/W/N facing locations and in wind-loaded gullies and bowls. Snowdrift accumulations can be triggered as medium-sized slab avalanches even by minimal additional loading. In addition, isolated glide snow avalanches can be expected esp. on very steep slopes with a smooth ground beneath in all aspects - natural triggering is possible. Glide cracks are covered, thus, hard to spot. At higher altitudes these releases can reach medium size. On the sunny side spontaneously releasing superficial loose snow avalanches (mostly small) in extremely steep terrain can be expected.

On Tuesday, stormy easterly winds will locally generate snowdrift accumulations that are extremely prone to triggering.The snowdrifts were deposited atop the dry soft snow of the last precipitation period. Shooting cracks indicate that the snowpack structure is prone to triggering. In some places there is a crust at the transitions to the old snowpack surface, underneath which faceted crystals have formed. Elsewhere the old snowpack is thoroughly moist, often wet down to the ground. At lower altitudes, too, where the ground had been totally bare of snow before the recent snowfall, the snowpack is now in many places wet.The consequence are gliding movements of the snowpack over the smooth ground.

Avalanche danger decreases slowly as result of calm high pressure weather.