Allgäu Alps Central

Glide-snow avalanches can trigger naturally!

Glide-snow avalanches can trigger naturally!

Avalanche danger is moderate. Main problem: snowdrifts. Avalanche prone locations are found in steep ridgeline terrain in S/W/N aspects as 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 even be triggered by minimum additional loading such as a single skier. In isolated cases, slab avalanches at high altitude can attain large size, in particular if more deeply embedded layers are triggered. In addition, on smooth ground, such as steep grass-covered slopes, glide snow avalanches can trigger naturally and grow to large size Glide cracks are alarm signals. 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. At an altitude of about 2000 m in the main Allgäu ridge area, first glide cracks are opening on steep grass-covered slopes; on Sunday, the first medium-sized glide snow avalanche was reported. The moisture at the snowpack base promotes gliding movements of the snow masses.

Until Tuesday, the avalanche situation will not change significantly.