Chiemgau Alps East

Snowdrift accumulations trigger-prone in places

Rising temperatures and heavy rainfall will make the surface wet, the moisture will seep deep into the snowpoack, leading to a loss of firmness and instability of loose snow. In additional the water can remain stored on the the melt-freeze crusts and destabilize further the weak layers. At highest altitudes the snow will be transported by foehn winds and deposited on north-facing slopes as snowdrift accumulations atop the cold loose layers of snow. The layering at high altitudes is poor: weak intermediate layers are in the uppermost part (graupel) and faceted layers between wind crusts and near thin melt-freeze crusts are deeper down. At the bottom level the snowpack is compact and stable.

Wet-snow avalanche activity will increase on Thursday.

Snowdrift accumulations trigger-prone in places

Avalanche danger from Ammergau to Berchtesgaden Alps is moderate. Main problem: snowdrifts. Danger zones occur in steep ridgeline terrain on NW/N/SE facing slopes, behind discontinuities and in wind-loaded gullies and bowls. Snowdrift accumulations can be triggered as slab avalanches by one sole person and reach medium size. In addition, danger of wet-snow avalanches will increase as the day progresses. Naturally triggered wet loose-snow avalanches can be expected in steep rocky terrain at intermediate altitudes, releases mostly small.