Werdenfels Alps

Wet snow at low altitudes, snowdrifts at high altitudes

Wet snow at low altitudes, snowdrifts at high altitudes

Avalanche danger in the Allgau Alps is moderate. Main problem: wet snow. In extremely steep terrain in all aspects, wet loose-snow avalanches can trigger naturally, glide-snow avalanches at low altitudes. At high altitudes where the fresh fallen snow falls cold and dry and then is transported by stormy westerly winds, fresh snowdrift accumulations can be triggered even by the weight of one sole skier and unleash a slab avalanche. Danger zones occur esp. in steep ridgeline terrain in N/E aspects but also distant from ridgelines in wind-loaded gullies and bowls and behind abrupt discontinuities in the terrain. Frequency and size of avalanche prone locations increase with ascending altitude. Slab avalanches can reach medium size.

Storm-strength winds are transporting the small amounts of fresh fallen snow, generating new snowdrift accumulations, which are being deposited atop soft layers in summit regions. The small bit of fresh snow will create a trigger-sensitive weak layer. At low altitudes the rain is making the snowpack thoroughly wet, which is causing the snowpack to forfeit its firmness.

Further precipitation will make avalanche danger increase slightly in the next few days.