Berchtesgaden Alps

Avalanches release themselves.

Avalanches release themselves.

The avalanche risk is high above 1500 metres and considerable below that. The main problem is new fallen snow. Avalanches release themselves and can also become large on snowy slopes at higher altitudes. Self-triggering slab and loose snow avalanches are to be expected at higher altitudes, especially on sunny slopes.

Wet snow is also a problem. Many wet avalanches occur at medium altitudes. Gliding avalanches are triggered on steep slopes with smooth ground such as rock slabs, meadows or in deciduous forests. Loose snow avalanches occur on extremely steep terrain.

Avalanches can hit exposed infrastructure.

Up to one metre of new fallen snow has fallen in the past 24 hours. At higher altitudes, it lies on a prone-to-triggering old snowpack with embedded graupel, old surface hoar and faceted crystals. Mild temperatures and solar radiation destabilise the snowpack. At medium altitudes, the old snowpack is often damp, below 1500 metres it is completely soaked.

The avalanche danger is slowly decreasing in calm, high-pressure weather.