Werdenfels Alps

Caution: Isolated avalanche prone locations in steep wind-loaded gullies at altitude

Caution: Isolated avalanche prone locations in steep wind-loaded gullies at altitude

Avalanche danger is generally low. Niear-surface snow layers in the old snowpack are still a problem. Small slab avalanches can release in places, in particular by large additional loading, on weak intermediate layers in the snow deposited on the weekend and in the area of older blanketed snowdrift accumulations. Avalanche prone locations are found at high altitude in steep terrain adjacent to ridgelines in N/E/SE aspects as well as in steep wind-loaded gullies. In addition, a snowdrift problem emerges. Strong westerly winds that are getting up are increasingly generating small snowdrift accumulations above the timberline which are prone to triggering. The perils of being forced to take a fall in steep terrain exceed those of being buried in snow masses.

The fresh snow of the weekend was deposited atop a melt-freeze encrusted, stable old snowpack and is widely blanketed by a thin ice crust or a melt-freeze crust. In windward terrain at higher altitudes wind crusts are predominant, elsewhere settled powder. The potential that the westerly winds that are getting up will transport the snow is therefore generally low. Locally, trigger-sensitive intermediate layers persist in the near-surface layers of the snowpack. On sunny slopes at intermediate altitudes the snow moistens during the course of the day. All in all, the snowpack depths are below average, at lower altitudes a solid snow base is lacking in many places.

New snow and storm-strength winds are forecast for Friday night. Avalanche danger levels will then increase.