Werdenfels Alps

Heed trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations

Heed trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations

Avalanche danger above 1800 m is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. Main problem: the freshly generated snowdrift accumulations. Even minimum additional loading can triger small slab avalanches wherever there was an old snowpack beneath the drifts. Danger zones occur in steep terrain above 1600 m in wind-loaded gullies and bowls in NW/E/S facing terrain. Avalanche prone locations tend to increase in size and spread with ascending altitude.

The fresh snow is being transported by strong winds over the wind-encrusted and icy snowpack surfaces. In wind-protected zones they are being deposited and bond poorly with the base. Intermediate layers of large crystals inside the old snow at high altitudes are no longer likely to trigger. At intermediate altitudes the small amounts of fresh snow were deposited on bare ground.

Avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly to begin with.