Werdenfels Alps

The fresh snowdrifts are trigger-sensitive. Size and frequency of avalanche prone locations increase during the course of the day.

The fresh snowdrifts are trigger-sensitive. Size and frequency of avalanche prone locations increase during the course of the day.

Above the timberline avalanche danger rises from moderate to considerable in line with the daytime danger cycle. The main problem stems from fresh snowdrifts. Medium-sized slab avalanches can be triggered by minimum additional loading such as the weight of a single skier, both near to and distant from ridges in N/E/SW aspects. Size and frequency of avalanche prone locations increase during the course of the day and with ascending altitude. Above the timberline avalanches can even grow to large size in the afternoon.

Stormy westerly winds accompany snowfall and generate fresh snowdrift accumulations that are prone to triggering. The snowdrifts bond only poorly with the old snowpack surface. Besides that, a thin trigger-sensitive layer consisting of expansively metamorphosed crystals is found underneath a near surface melt-freeze crust, in particular on the sunny side. Otherwise the old snowpack surface is wind-impacted and consists of wind crusts, older and fresh snowdrift accumulations, graupel, and powder snow.

Due to further snowfalls and plenty of wind the avalanche danger will continue to increase on the weekend.