Allgäu Alps Central

Gliding snow activity rises

Gliding snow activity rises

On the main Allgäu crest avalanche danger above 1500m is considerable, danger below that altitude is low. Main problem: wet snow. On very steep slopes with smooth ground glide snow avalanches can be expected at anytime. In isolated cases they can grow to large size. Avoid zones below glide cracks. In extremely steep terrain, small and medium-sized wet loose snow avalanches will release in addition. In addition beware snowdrifts at high altitudes. Avalanche prone locations are found in steep ridgeline terrain in N/E/S aspects and in wind-loaded gullies and bowls. Here, isolated small to medium-sized slab avalanches can be triggered by minimal additional loading. Size and frequency of avalanche prone locations increase with ascending altitude.

Up to high altitudes the fresh snow from Monday is moist. Even beyond 2000 m the old snowpack base is completely moist and wet at ground level. Moistening progresses as a result of mild temperatures. Higher up, fresh and somewhat older snowdrift accumulations were in places deposited atop soft layers or graupel and are prone to triggering. There is barely any snow below 1500 m, even in north-facing terrain.

For the time being gliding snow danger will remain elevated.