Chiemgau Alps East

Slab avalanche risk and wet loose snow avalanche danger cycle

Slab avalanche risk and wet loose snow avalanche danger cycle

Avalanche danger above 1500 m is moderate; below it rises from low to moderate during the course of the day. Main problem: fresh snowdrifts. In some places, particularly in steep ridgeline terrain in N/W/S aspects as well as in wind-loaded gullies and bowls, slab avalanches of medium size can be triggered even by minimum additional loading, such as the weight of one sole skier. Avalanche prone locations tend to increase in size and frequency with ascending altitude. In addition, loose snow avalanches can release spontaneously on extremely steep slopes. The highest avalanche activity is expected in steep rocky sun-exposed terrain in the afternoon. The first glide snow avalanches will also start sliding over steep meadows. Avalanches tend to be small.

At higher altitudes the loose snow has settled somewhat and has been transported by brisk easterly wind; in leeward areas snowdrifts have accumulated. They were deposited atop soft snowpack layers and are partly prone to triggering. Where an old snow cover persisted prior to the last precipitation period it is stable, at intermediate altitudes frequently wet down to the ground. At lower altitudes - and in south-facing terrain almost up to high altitudes - loose snow was deposited on the previously bare ground. During the course of the day, the snow will become superficially wet on sunny slopes and will loose its firmness.

As a consequence of stable high pressure weather and milder temperatures the snowpack will settle measurably and avalanche danger will gradually decline.