Berchtesgaden Alps

Caution: fresh snowdrifts at high altitude!

Caution: fresh snowdrifts at high altitude!

Avalanche danger above 1500 m is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. Main problem: wet snow. Due to rainfall naturally triggered wet loose snow and slab avalanches can be expected in steep terrain that has not yet discharged. Avalanches tend to be small, but isolated medium-sized wet avalanches are possible. The snowpack will start gliding over the smooth ground on steep slopes. -- Glide cracks are indicators of the danger zones. In addition, even a single person engaged in snow sports can trigger fresh snowdrifts as slab avalanches at high altitude. Avalanche prone locations are found adjacent to and distant from ridgelines in wind-loaded gullies and bowls and behind protuberances in steep north/east/south-facing terrain. Dry slab avalanches can reach medium size.

At intermediate altitudes the penetration of moisture into the snowpack progresses. Also the new snow that fell during Friday night will now become rapidly wet during the day due to rainfall. At high altitude, stormy and gusty southwesterly wind will generate fresh snowdrift accumulations. Trigger-sensitive intermediate layers can be found in the fresh snowdrifts and at transitions to older snowdrift accumulations. Below 1500 m there is hardly any snow left.

As of Sunday it will be cooler, there will be new snow and wind and therefore the danger of snowdrifts will become more important again.