Allgäu Alps West

Attention winter sports enthusiasts: treacherous situation at high altitude

Attention winter sports enthusiasts: treacherous situation at high altitude

With increasing altitude esp. in steep ridgeline terrain, wind-loaded gullies and bowls, behind abrupt discontinuities in the terrain, freshly generated snowdrift accumulations require caution. Size and spread increase with ascending altitude. Also: above 2200 m on steep shady slopes there are unfavourable layers in the old snow, small-to-medium, in isolated cases also large slab avalanches can be triggered even by one sole winter spots enthusiast. Also naturally triggered avalanches are possible on steep shady slopes. These can sweep away the entire snowpack and grow to large size. In zones where there has been rain impact at low and intermediate altitude in all aspects, wet slides and small-to-medium avalanches can trigger from starting zones which have not yet discharged, isolated large-sized avalanches, as well as small glide-snow avalanches on steep grass-covered slopes.

The intermittently storm-strength westerly winds at high altitudes have transported the snow and generated new snowdrift accumulations. Fresh fallen snow and freshly generated snowdrifts lie deposited atop an encrusted old snowpack surface. Bonding is often weak-to-moderate. In addition, on steep shady slopes above 2200 m the layering is frequently weak. The additional loading of the fresh snow and drifts will lead to further tensions. These danger spots are not visible to the naked eye. Mostly shallow snowpacks will be further moistened at intermediate altitudes, thereby forfeiting even more of their firmness. Sunny slopes at intermediate altitudes are becoming bare of snow.

Saturday night: final rain showers from Rhine Valley into Kleinwalsertal will terminate, then sunshine is on the way. Sunday: sun, and cloudless skies. Brisk W/SW winds, mild air masses. Zero-degree level at 3000 m. At 2000 m: risig from +2 to +7 degrees. Brisk W/SW winds.

Avalanche danger will slowly decrease at high altitudes. The persistent weak layer will abide on high altitude shady slopes.