Werdenfels Alps

Beware of wet snow avalanches at lower altitudes and shallow snowdrifts at higher altitudes

Beware of wet snow avalanches at lower altitudes and shallow snowdrifts at higher altitudes

Below 2400 m the avalanche danger rises from low to moderate during the course of the day; for the rest it is low. Main problem: wet snow. During the course of the day, small wet snow avalanches can trigger naturally. Up to medium-sized glide snow avalanches can release on steep smooth grass-covered slopes and in sparsely wooded zones, primarily in the afternoon. Glide cracks indicate danger. In addition, partly fresh, small snowdrift accumulations can be triggered as slab avalanches in N/E aspects in steep ridgeline terrain at high altitude. The danger of taking a fall in steep terrain outweighs that of being buried in snow masses.

The old snowpack has generally settled well and consolidated. Only on shady high altitude slopes are there still patches of compact powder. Due to solar radiation and daytime warming the snowpack is becoming increasingly moist which is associated with a loss of firmness. On sunny slopes the ground is becoming more and more bare up to intermediate altitudes. At high altitude strong westerly winds are generating snowdrift accumulations which are partly prone to triggering.

On Sunday the avalanche danger can rise slightly due to rain at lower altitudes and new snow and wind at higher altitudes.