Werdenfels Alps

At higher altitudes snowdrift problem; at intermediate altitudes increasing wet snow problem

At higher altitudes snowdrift problem; at intermediate altitudes increasing wet snow problem

Avalanche danger is moderate above 2000 m, below that altitude danger is low. Main problem: 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. Avalanches can grow to medium size. At intermediate altitudes the danger of wet snow avalanches increases due to solar radiation and daytime warming. Loose snow, slab and glide snow avalanches release on steep sunny slopes. This is in particular true for steep rocky terrain and steep grass-covered slopes. The avalanches are mostly small, but can also grow to medium size.

As temperatures have dropped some snow has fallen at low altitudes since Tuesday; at higher altitudes up to 20 cm of fresh snow were deposited. This is where strong westerly to northwesterly winds also generated fresh snowdrift accumulations. In some places weak intermediate layers still persist in the fresh and also older snowdrift accumulations which can be prone to triggering. During the course of Wednesday night they will be blanketed by a thin new snow layer which makes them difficult to recognize. At intermediate altitudes the insignificant amounts of new snow are found well bonded atop an old snowpack which is thoroughly moist down to the ground. As a result of sunshine and daytime warming the snowpack surface will become thoroughly moist and correspondingly forfeits its firmness.

Starting from Friday wet snow problems are expected up to high altitudes as a consequence of spring-like temperatures. Avalanche danger will then aggravate.