Allgäu Alps West

Beware fresh snow, drifts: prone to triggering

Beware fresh snow, drifts: prone to triggering

Avalanche danger above the timberline is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. The fresh snow and drifts can be triggered even by minimum additional loading as generally small-sized avalanches. Danger zones occur primarily in steep terrain and in wind-loaded gullies and bowls. If avalanches on shady slopes fracture down to deeper layers of the snowpack, they can grow to medium size. Apart from the risks of being buried in snow masses, the danger of being swept along and forced to take a fall also require caution.

By Sunday morning, 15-20cm of fresh snow fell. Due to NW winds, fresh snowdrift accumulations were generated. The fresh snow and drifts have often been deposited on a loosely-packed old snowpack surface or atop surface hoar. They are often prone to triggering. The mid-level part of the snowpack consists of well-settled, compact layers widespread which on high-altitude shady slopes cover a poorly structured old snowpack fundament.

Low-pressure front conditions. Nighttime snowfall will rapidly taper off, clouds and fog will be persistent all day long. Bright intervals can best be expected in the Central Alps during daytime hours. Temperature at 2000m: -5 degrees; at 3000m: -9 degrees. Moderate-velocity NE winds at high altitudes, shifting in high alpine regions to SW.

On Monday, snow showers will repeatedly pass through starting at midday, often accompanied by strong-velocity westerly winds. Fresh trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations will be generated.