Chiemgau Alps East

Snowdrifts prone to triggering; often blanketed by new snow.

Snowdrifts prone to triggering; often blanketed by new snow.

The avalanche danger remains moderate above 1600m; below it is low. Main problem: the snowdrifts of the last few days. At higher altitude, slab avalanches of small-to-medium size can be triggered even by minimum additional loading, i.e., by a single person engaged in wintersports. Avalanche prone locations are found in steep ridgeline terrain in N/E/SW aspects, in wind-loaded gullies and bowls, below terrain protruberances as well as in wind-loaded forest ailes. Size and frequency of the danger zones increase with ascending altitude. Possibility of small loose snow avalanches releasing naturally in steep rocky terrain due to solar radiation.

A few centimeters of loose fresh snow are blanketing a wind-impacted and partly icy old snowpack, and in places large-scale snowdrift accumulations. Embedded in the snowdrift accumulations are trigger-sensitive boundary layers consisting of faceted crystals that were able to form while precipitation paused - or else graupel. At higher altitudes and on shady slopes the snowpack base is very compact. At lower altitudes and on sunny slopes, a thin layer of powdry snow is found directly on the ground.

Due to solar radiation and calm weather the avalanche danger will slowly decrease in the next few days.