Allgäu Alps Central

Slab avalanche danger increases with ascending altitude. Heed danger of natural releases in sun-exposed steep terrain!

Slab avalanche danger increases with ascending altitude. Heed danger of natural releases in sun-exposed steep terrain!

On the main Allgäu ridgee avalanche danger above 1600 m is considerable, danger below that altitude is moderate. The main problem are snowdrifts which can in places be triggered as slab avalanches even by low additional loading such as by a single skier. Avalanche prone are found on steep northwest to north to southeast facing slopes adjacent to ridgelines, as well as in wind-loaded gullies and bowls. Frequency and size increase with ascending altitude. Slab avalanches can reach medium size. There is a risk that mostly medium-sized glide snow avalanches release spontaneously on very steep slopes over smooth ground. Isolated glide snow avalanches can grow to large size. Avoid zones below glide cracks. In addition, small to medium-sized loose snow avalanches can trigger naturally in extremely steep rocky and rugged terrain. Avalanche prone locations occur in all aspects, however predominantly in the sun.

Up to intermediate altitudes the snow that has fallen on Friday was deposited on ground that had previously become bare of snow again. In many places a thin superficial melt-freeze crust forms during the night. The lower half of the old snowpack is thoroughly moist and stable up to high altitudes. At higher altitudes there are in places trigger-sensitive intermediate layers embedded in the snowdrifts accumulated on Friday and underneath last week's melt-freeze crusts. Where winds intensify, fresh snowdrift accumulations will be generated in the afternoon that are prone to triggering. Warming and solar radiation are triggers for loose snow avalanches. The snowpack base is wet which promotes gliding of the snowpack on steep slopes over smooth ground. Gliding snow activity is higher than in the last weeks.

No significant changes.