Werdenfels Alps

Persistent weak layer in old snow at higher altitudes. In addition, avoid zones below glide cracks.

Persistent weak layer in old snow at higher altitudes. In addition, avoid zones below glide cracks.

Avalanche danger above 1800 m is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. Weak layers in the old snowpack are the main problem. Slab avalanches can trigger especially by large additional loading and in transition from shall to deep snow. Danger zones occur in steep ridgeline terrain, in particular in shady aspects, near ridgelines, in steep high altitude terrain and in shallow snow. Avalanches can grow to medium size. In addition, glide-snow avalanches can release spontaneously at any time of day or night. This applies in particular to steep grass-covered slopes on the sunny side; but partly also to forest aisles and rock slabs. At high altitudes they can reach medium size.

At night, a breakable crust forms on south-facing slopes which softens fast. On the shady side the snow is still dry, close to ridges superficially impacted by wind. In places, a trigger-sensitive weak layers persists in the snowpack underneath a melt-freeze crust On ridges there are also isolated weak layers consisting of faceted crystals under buried under older accumulated snowdrifts. At low altitudes the snowpack is shallow, moist down to the ground. Gliding movements over smooth grass-covered slopes cannot be excluded, especially at high altitudes where there is more snow. A

Avalanche danger changes little. As wind intensifies by mid-week, fresh small-scale snowdrifts can accumulate.