Chiemgau Alps East

Avoid trigger-sensitive snowdrifts.

Avoid trigger-sensitive snowdrifts.

Avalanche danger above the timberline is moderate, below that altitude avalanche danger is low. The main problem: snowdrifts that can be triggered as small to medium-sized slab avalanches even by minimum additional loading. This relates in particular to steep ridgeline terrain above the timberline in NW/E/SE aspects as well as wind-loaded gullies and bowls. However, it can also apply to steep forest aisles at lower altitudes. At high altitudes, avalanches can fracture down to more deeply embedded layers in the old snow. Frequency and size of danger zones increase with ascending altitude. Isolated smaller glide-snow avalanches can trigger naturally on steep smooth grassy slopes in all aspects.

During Thursday night, widespread 10-20cm of new snow will fall, which will be transported by stormy westerly winds. On the shady side, new snow and snowdrifts will be deposited atop an unfavorable expansively metamorphosed old snow surface, from place to place also on surface hoar, easily triggerable. Weak layers can also be embedded in the snowdrifts. In particular in shady high altitude terrain layers consisting of faceted (metamorphosed) crystals are embedded in the old snowpack, which in some places are still prone to triggering. On south-facing intermediate altitude slopes, the new snow will frequently fall on bare ground. The snowpack base is moist at the ground, gliding movements are not excluded.