Allgäu Alps West

Glide-snow avalanches persist, mostly favourable conditions at high altitudes

Glide-snow avalanches persist, mostly favourable conditions at high altitudes

Avalanche danger is moderate due to gliding snow. On steep smooth slopes in all aspects agove 2400 m, medium glide-snow avalanches are possible, indicated by glide cracks. No current risk of dry-snow avalanches, at most superficial layers or older drifts could trigger, usually only with large additional loading. A cautious route selection is advised. Caution near cornices, which could break. On sunny slopes, mostly small loose-snow avalanches can be expected if there is solar radiation.

Snow is irregularly distributed due to storm-strength winds. Crests and ridges are utterly windblown, gullies and bowls and zones behind protruberances are filled to the brim with drifted snow. Older drifts are often hardened, many surfaced are wind-compacted. The drifts are bonding well with the snowpack beneath them. Fresher drifts have weak intermediate layers, sometimes with graupel, and are prone to triggering. The fresh snow has settled well. At intermediate altitudes the snowpack is often moist down to the ground. The weight-load of the fresh snow reinforces the process of gliding over smooth ground.

Nocturnal hours: Clear skies, dry, good outgoing radiation. Thursday daytime: A sunny and mild day, merely diffuse light conditions in the afternoon. At 2000 m: +6 degrees. Moderate to brisk W/SW winds, strong SW winds in the foehn regions.

Friday will be very sunny. The danger of dry-snow avalanches will recede further. Danger of glide-snow avalanches will persist.