Chiemgau Alps East

Large slab avalanches possible in places at high altitudes.

Large slab avalanches possible in places at high altitudes.

Avalanche danger above the treeline is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. Main problem: snowdrifts. Avalanche prone locations are found in steep ridgeline terrain in S/W/N aspects ass well as in wind-loaded gullies and bowls. Size and frequency increase with ascending altitude and a practiced eye recognizes them easily. In places, avalanches can be triggered even by minimum additional loading such as a single skier; in particular at high altitudes they can grow to medium size. Apart from the risks of being buried in snow, the danger of falling deserves consideration. At high altitude there is in addition an old snow problem. In particular on shady slopes, isolated slab avalanches can be triggered in patches with little snow and in some circumstances they can grow to large size. Due to solar radiation the danger of mostly small loose snow avalanches increases during the course of the day in south aspects in extremely steep terrain.

Cold easterly wind continues to transport snow to exposed patches where it is deposited brittle atop soft layers or atop older snowdrift accumulations. In many places graupel is embedded near the surface. In the old snowpack at higher altitudes there are weak intermediate layers of faceted crystals close to crusts. The snow depths in the terrain vary enormously; in wind-exposed locations and at low altitudes it is below average.

Until Tuesday, the avalanche situation will not change significantly.