Allgäu Alps West

Main problem: lots of fresh snow

Main problem: lots of fresh snow

Avalanche danger above the timberline is considerable, below that altitude danger is moderate. Slab avalanches of medium size, in isolated cases also large size, can be triggered even by minimum additional loading, e.g. the weight of one sole skier. Danger zones occur particularly near ridgelines, but also distant from ridgelines in steep terrain, gullies, bowls, behind abrupt discontinuities in the terrain. Frequency of danger zones increases with ascending altitude. Particularly in extremely steep terrain, loose-snow avalanches can trigger naturally. In addition, isolated avalanches can be triggered from the persistent weak layer, esp. in extremely steep shady terrain. Small avalanche releases are possible by large additional loading. At intermediate and high altitudes, isolated glide-snow avalanches continue to be possible on smooth, steep slopes.

There was 30-40 cm of fresh snow registered last night, more from place to place. It fell amid heavy wind impact and was deposited atop a snowpack surface with springlike temperatures, dominated by melt-freeze crusts. Therefore, the fresh fallen snow will bond well with the rough-hewn surfaces. The stability of the snowpack is worse in wind-protected shady terrain at high altitudes due to the expansively metamorphosed (faceted) layers and wherever the fresh snow is blanketed by fresh snowdrifts. At intermediate altitudes there is little snow on the ground. At low altitudes the fresh snow was often deposited on bare ground.

Today will be cold and it will be windy in the mountains. Visibility will be severely reduced due to snowfall and dense clouds. Only light snowfall during the daytime hours, intensifying this evening and during the night. At 2000 m: -5 degrees. Initially strong W/NW winds will transport the fresh fallen snow, later the winds will ease.

Brisk to strong NE/E winds will make it feel even colder on Sunday. Compact cloudbanks will bring a bit of snowfall from Kleinwalsertal over the Arlberg regions into the Verwall. Elsewhere it will remain dry. Avalanche danger levels will recede only slowly.