Werdenfels Alps

Fresh snowdrifts at higher altitudes prone to triggering!

Fresh snowdrifts at higher altitudes prone to triggering!

Avalanche danger above 2000 m is considerable; below that altitude it is moderate. The main problem: fresh trigger sensitive snowdrifts. They can be triggered by single persons as slab avalanches close to and distant from ridgelines in N/E/S aspects behind terrain protuberances and in wind-loaded gullies and bowls. Slab avalanches attain medium size. Size and frequency of avalanche prone locations increase with ascending altitude. In addition, isolated loose snow avalanches can release spontaneously in very steep terrain and also attain medium size. On smooth grass-covered slopes and in sparsely wooded zones small to medium-sized glide snow avalanches can release and glide over the ground.

The forecast new snow will fall accompanied by strong westerly winds and cold temperatures and will be deposited atop a warm old snowpack surface. At higher altitudes the fresh snowdrifts accumulate atop thin soft layers. At intermediate altitude the old snowpack is mostly wet down to the ground, whereas it is by and large compact and stable at high altitude. Below 1400 m the new snow is mostly deposited atop a previously bare and wet ground.

In the next few days, the avalanche situation will remain tense due to further snowfall.