Werdenfels Alps

Snowdrifts at higher altitudes; wet snow at intermediate altitudes.

Snowdrifts at higher altitudes; wet snow at intermediate altitudes.

Avalanche danger at high altitudes is moderate, at intermediate altitudes it is low. Main problem at high altitude are fresh snowdrifts. They can in some places be triggered even by the weight of one sole person and release a slab avalanche. Avalanche prone locations are found in particular in steep ridgeline terrain in N/E/S aspects as well as in freshly wind-loaded gullies and bowls. In isolated cases avalanches can grow to medium size. It is possible that isolated wet loose snow or glide snow avalanches trigger naturally in steep rocky terrain as well as on steep grass-covered slopes at intermediate altitudes. Avalanches tend to be small.

During the course of the day up to 20 centimeters of new snow have falllen at high altitudes accompanied by strong westerly to southwesterly winds; snowfall line varied between 1600 m and 1800 m. Even at high altitudes the snowpack is now superficially moist, has strongly diminished at intermediate altitudes due to rain and is mostly wet down to the ground. This is associated with a loss in firmness, as a consequence snow masses can start gliding over smooth grass-covered slopes. The shallow new snow cover anticipated for Tuesday night and Wednesday during daytime will be deposited atop them, without wind to speak off, and will bond well. Heed fresh snowdrift accumulations at higher altitudes. In some places weak intermediate layers still persist in thee fresh and also older snowdrift accumulations. These can be prone to triggering.

As a consequence of cooler temperatures a bit snow will also fall at the valley floors until spring-like temperatures will set it an end by Friday. Avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly.