Berchtesgaden Alps

In some places new snow triggerable as slab avalanches. Caution: Natural releases in extremely deep terrain.

In some places new snow triggerable as slab avalanches. Caution: Natural releases in extremely deep terrain.

Avalanche danger above 1600 m is considerable, below that altitude danger is moderate. The main problem is fresh snow which can be triggered as medium-sized slab avalanches even by minimum additional loading in steep terrain, e.g., by a single skier. Loose snow avalanches can also release naturally. Such avalanche prone locations occur on extremely steep slopes in all aspects. The focal point of loose snow avalanche activity will be sunny terrain caused by solar radiation. Loose snow avalanches attain medium size. There is a risk that small to medium-sized glide snow avalanches release spontaneously on very steep slopes over smooth ground.

At higher altitudes between 20 cm and 40 cm of settled new snow cover a compact old snowpack. In places bonding with the old snow is poor. Far up into intermediate altitudes the new snow was deposited atop a previously bare ground. Warming and solar radiation are triggers for loose snow avalanches. Where winds intensify locally, small snowdrifts accumulate that are prone to triggering.The snowpack base is wet which promotes gliding of the snowpack on steep slopes over smooth ground.

As a consequence of intensifying southwesterly winds the danger of dry slabs will increase on Sunday.