Allgäu Alps Central

At high altitude small-scale snowdrifts

At high altitude small-scale snowdrifts

Avalanche danger above the treeline is moderate. The main problem is gliding snow which can trigger at any time on very steep slopes with smooth ground in any aspect and reach medium size. Avoid zones below glide cracks. In addition, small-scale snowdrift accumulations are generated at high altitudes. Avalanche prone locations are found in steep rigdeline terrain as well as in gullies and bowls in N/E/S aspects. Slab avalanches can be released by a single skier. Releases are mostly small. Heed danger of being swept along. Danger of taking a fall on hard snowpack surface.

Precipitations will start on Wednesday night. At high altitudes the snowfall level will rise during the course of the day. Below the snowfall level ingress of rain makes the snowpack increasingly moist, forfeits its firmness.The snowpack base is wet. Gliding movements over slopes with smooth ground are to be expected. Above the snowfall level, brisk westerly winds are locally generating small snowdrift accumulations which are deposited atop a hard (sometimes icy) old snowpack surface and are prone to triggering. A weak layer consisting of faceted crystals formed underneath the melt-freeze crust in shady summit zones due to the nocturnal outgoing longwave radiation in the last few nights. Below 1300 m there is barely any snow left.

Weather on the weekend will be milder. At higher altitudes the snowdrift accumulations can settle; at lower altitudes the snowpack depths continues to decrease. Avalanche danger will recede somewhat.