Chiemgau Alps East

Variable snowpack depths

Variable snowpack depths

Avalanche danger is low in the Allgäu and Bavarian Pre-Alps and the Chiemgau Alps. Fresh snowdrifts are the main problem. Avalanche prone locations occur in steep ridgeline terrain in all aspects and in wind-loaded gullies and bowls. Snowdrift accumulations can be triggered as slab avalanches even by minimal additional loading. Slab avalanches are usually small, so that the danger of being swept along or being hurt is predominant. In addition, glide-snow avalanches are possible on very steep slopes with smooth ground. These can release naturally in all aspects, but are mostly small.

In many places the snowpack surface is wind-impacted. The snowdrifts of the last few days are in isolated cases found atop surface hoar and are trigger sensitive; on the sunny side the same is true for isolated snowdrifts atop a thin melt-freeze crust. Older accumulated snowdrift masses have now bonded well with the old snowpack surface. On the shady side and in leeward zones the snow was deposited loose and unbonded atop the old snowpack surface; at lower altitudes without remaining snowpack on the bare ground. Elsewhere the old snowpack is compact and extremely hard. Up to higher altitudes it is moist, frequently wet down to ground layers. In the forests and at lower altitudes where the ground had been totally bare of snow before the recent snowfall, the snowpack is now in many places wet. The consequence are gliding movements of the snowpack over the smooth ground.

Avalanche danger will not change significantly over the weekend.