Allgäu Alps West

Older snowdrifts frequently still prone to triggering

Older snowdrifts frequently still prone to triggering

Older snowdrifts are frequently still prone to triggering, can be triggered even by minimum additional loading as small-to-medium sized slab avalanches. Danger zones occur primarily on steep ridgeline north-facing slopes and in wind-loaded gullies and bowls. Frequency and spread of avalanche prone locations increase with ascending altitude, in high alpine regions they include west, east-facing slopes as well. If avalanches on high-altitude shady slopes fracture down to deeper weak layers, they can in isolated cases then grow to medium size. Such avalanche prone locations occur primarily in spots where the snow is shallow or in transitions from shallow to deep snow.

The snowdrift accumulations of last week have increasingly consolidated, especially on sunny slopes. Only at higher altitudes are they often deposited atop an unfavorable old snowpack surface, where they can be triggered. On steep south-facing slopes there is often a melt-freeze crust capable of bearing loads which softens up during daytime hours. 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.

Heavily clouded nocturnal skies, clearing up in early morning. In the early part of the day, sunshine will predominate over residual clouds, in southern regions above all, foehn-generated conditions are anticipated, before convertive cloud build-up increases in the afternoon. Temperature at 2000m: 0 degrees; at 3000m: -10 degrees. Light to moderate strength S/SE winds at high altitudes.

Avalanche danger not expected to change significantly in the early part of the week.