Allgäu Alps West

Naturally triggered avalanches still expected

Avalanche danger is gradually diminishing, but the overall situation for winter sports enthusiasts remains extremely treacherous.

Dangerous avalanche situation backcountry persists

Large amounts of fresh snow and drifts blanket a weak old snowpack. Avalanches can easily be triggered by one single winter sports enthusiast in all aspects, and then grow to large size. Danger zones are numerous, occur also near the timberline. For activities outside secured zones, conditions are extremely dangerous. Remote triggerings and naturally triggered avalanches continue to be anticipated. Particularly in starting zones which have not yet discharged, they can in isolated cases be very large-sized and plummet down to low altitude zones. Exposed transportation routes can be placed at risk. Rain impact at low and intermediate altitudes will lead to the snowpack softening up and thus, to increased frequency of naturally triggered avalanches.

Less than 10cm of fresh snow is anticipated, accompaned by strong-velocity winds. The large amounts of fresh snow from the last few days have been repeatedly transported in varying directions, generating far-reaching snowdrift accumulations. These are often blanketed over and difficult to recognize. Bonding to the generally weak snowpack is weak. Several large and very large sized avalanche releases due to artificial triggerings, remote triggerings and provoked by winter sports enthusiasts confirm just how trigger-sensitive the snowpack is. At low and intermediate altitudes the snowpack is softening due to rainfall.

On Monday, gray and foggy skies, only brief bright intervals. Light intermittent snowfall, snowfall level at about 1600m. Temperature at 2000m: rising from -1 degree, at 3000m at -6 degrees. Strong to storm-strength northwesterly winds at high altitudes.