Chiemgau Alps East

Caution: snowdrifts prone to triggering

As a result of fresh snow and wind, avalanche danger will increase on Thursday.

Caution: snowdrifts prone to triggering

Avalanche danger above the treeline is moderate. Snowdrift accumulations which formed over the last few days can be triggered even by minimum additional loading, i.e. the weight of one single skier, and avalanches can then grow to medium size. Avalanche prone locations are found in some ridgeline zones in NW/E/S aspects as well as in freshly wind-loaded gullies and bowls. In addition, there are ground-level weak layers in the old snow at high altitudes, as well as in transition zones from deep to shallow snow, which can be triggered by large additional loading. Furthermore, at intermediate altitudes isolated naturally triggered glide-snow avalanches are possible on steep and smooth grass-covered slopes in all aspects. Depending on snow depths, avalanches attaining medium size cannot be ruled out.

Over the last few days, storm-strength westerly winds have generated snowdrift accumulations which were deposited on loosely-packed, cold layers of snow and are prone to triggering. Below 2000 m, thin layers of ice and several melt-freeze layers have been blanketed with fresh snow; there are often faceted snow crystals beneath these. At higher altitudes, ground-level weak layers of expansively metamorphosed (faceted) crystals persist. Particularly in places where there is little snow, these layers are prone to triggering. Above the timberline the old snowpack shows marked effects of wind, below the timberline the snowpack has settled well and has a melt-freeze crust. Deeper down towards ground level, the snowpack is often moist, which furthers glide-snow movements.