Werdenfels Alps

Beware the risks of being swept along and forced to take a fall!

Beware the risks of being swept along and forced to take a fall!

Above 1500m avalanche danger is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. Snowdrifts are the main problem. Danger zones where slab avalanches can be triggered even by one sole skier occur in steep ridgeline terrain on N/E/S-facing slopes, in wind-loaded gullies and bowls, and behind protruberances in the terrain. Frequency of danger zones increases with ascending altitude. Slab avalanches can grow to medium size. In addition, the fresh snow can trigger as a loose-snow avalanche in rocky or extremely steep terrain. At higher altitudes, loose-snow avalanches can reach medium size. Small glide-snow avalanches can be expected more frequently on steep grass-covered slopes, also on slopes which were bare of snow prior to the current snowfall. Isolated small loose-snow avalanches of fresh fallen snow are possible in steep rocky terrain.

Renewed snowfall is about to set in, the fresh snow will be transported by strong-velocity westerly winds and widespread new snowdrift accumulations will be generated above the treeline. These will be deposited atop loose fresh snow. Inside the drifts, layers of graupel will be deposited over far-reaching areas. At intermediate altitudes the fresh snow will often be deposited on wet ground which was previously bare of snow and is moist from below. Snow is beginning to glide over smooth ground.

Depending on amounts of new snow and transported quantities, avalanche danger can rise further