Allgäu Alps Central

Snowdrifts at higher altitudes prone to triggering. Still possibility of gliding snow

Snowdrifts at higher altitudes prone to triggering. Still possibility of gliding snow

Avalanche danger above 1500 m is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. Main problem: snowdrifts. Avalanche prone locations are found in steep ridgeline terrain in NE/E/S aspects. Here small to medium-sized slab avalanches can be triggered by minimal additional loading such as a single skier. In addition glide snow avalanches can trigger naturally on steep smooth grass-covered slopes. Releases are mostly small, but in particular on the main Allgäu crest they can be medium (in isolated cases large) sized. With the onset of precipitation as rain, wet loose snow slides can release in very steep terrain.

Following a mostly clear Friday night, the snowpack is in many places encrusted and capable of bearing loads. At intermediate altitudes the onset of precipitation as rain softens the melt-freeze crust. Above 1400 m rainfall turns fast into snowfall. Heavy westerly winds will transport the fresh snow. Small-scale snowdrifts will accumulate whose bonding with the snowpack surface deteriorates with ascending altitude. In some places, graupel is embedded. Up to high altitudes the old snowpack is completely moist and wet at ground level. Thus gliding movements are still possible. There is barely any snow below 1500 m, even in north-facing terrain.

As a result of cooler temperatures and new snow the wet and gliding snow problem will decrease on Sunday and the danger of dry slab avalanches will increase.