Allgäu Alps Central

Snowdrifts above timberline in places still prone to triggering

Snowdrifts above timberline in places still prone to triggering

Avalanche danger above the timberline is moderate; below it is low. The main problem: snowdrifts. Avalanche prone locations are found adjacent to and distant from ridgelines on steep wind-loaded slopes in all aspects, behind terrain protuberances as well as in gullies and bowls filled with snowdrift deposits. Here, a single skier can trigger slab avalanches. In places, avalanches can attain medium size. At intermediate altitudes isolated glide snow avalanches can release naturally on smooth steep grass-covered slopes. In particular around glide cracks avalanches can be expected at any time. Glide snow avalanches can grow to medium size.

At intermediate altitudes, wind transported snow was deposited atop a compact and encrusted old snowpack. Bonding between packed snowdrift accumulations and old snowpack is partly still poor, in particular at high altitude. This is where snowdrift accumulations are bigger and where locally faceted crystals still persist under a more deeply embedded melt-freeze crust in the old snowpack. At intermediate altitudes the snowpack is wet down to the ground which promotes gliding movements of the snow masses.

As a consequence of new snow and wind the avalanche danger will rise again at the beginning of the week.