Berchtesgaden Alps

At higher altitudes, wet snow avalanches can reach medium size.

At higher altitudes, wet snow avalanches can reach medium size.

Avalanche danger above 1600 m is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. Wet and gliding snow are problematic. On very steep slopes with smooth ground that have not yet discharged small and medium-sized glide snow avalanches can trigger naturally. Glide cracks are indicators of threatening danger. Where precipitation is heaviest in extremely steep terrain, small to medium-sized loose snow avalanches can additionally release naturally due to rain ingress. In steep ridgeline terrain above 2200 m fresh snowdrifts accumulate which in isolated cases can by triggered by low additional loading. However, the danger of taking a fall outweighs that of being buried in snow masses.

A thin melt-freeze crust forms during the night that melts again during the day due to rain ingress. Even above 2000 m the snowpack is completely moist and wet at ground level. In general, at high altitudes superficial, former weak layers underneath older snowdrifts are now no longer triggerable. As a consequence of wind and fresh snow small fresh snowdrift accumulations will be generated which can be prone to triggering. There is barely any snow below 1500 m, even in north-facing terrain.

Avalanche danger changes little.