Chiemgau Alps East

Wind slab is covered by soft snow and can still be released in places.

Wind slab is covered by soft snow and can still be released in places.

The avalanche risk is moderate above the tree line and low below it. The main problem is wind slab. Small to medium slab avalanches can sometimes be triggered with little additional load. The avalanche prone locations are mainly above the tree line in the steep terrain adjacent to ridgelines in all slope aspects, behind terrain edges and in gullies and bowls. They are often covered in snow and difficult to recognise.

On very steep meadow slopes, small gliding avalanches can usually detach themselves. Small loose snow avalanches come off the steep terrain interspersed with rocks, especially when the sun is shining.

Small-scale snowdrift accumulations have formed over the last few days. They are prone to triggering on soft layers and graupel. In addition, weak intermediate layers are occasionally embedded in the upper part of the old snowpack in the area of melting snow caps. The snowpack base is compact and largely stable. At the boundary to the ground, it is often wet, which means that the snowpack can slide on smooth ground. With the slight warming and sunshine, the surface snow also quickly becomes moist and heavy.

The wind slab problem is increasingly easing with the settlement of the snowpack.