Allgäu Alps West

Small snowdrifts frequently still prone to triggering

Small snowdrifts frequently still prone to triggering

Older snowdrifts are frequently still prone to triggering, can be triggered even by minimum additional loading as small-to-medium sized slab avalanches. Danger zones occur primarily on steep ridgeline north-facing slopes and in wind-loaded gullies and bowls. Frequency and spread of avalanche prone locations increase with ascending altitude. If avalanches on high-altitude shady slopes fracture down to deeper weak layers, they can in isolated cases then grow to medium size. Such avalanche prone locations occur primarily in spots where the snow is shallow or in transitions from shallow to deep snow.

The small-to-medium sized snowdrifts of recent days have increasingly consolidated, especially on sunny slopes. On steep south-facing slopes there is often a melt-freeze crust capable of bearing loads which softens up during daytime hours. The mid-level part of the snowpack consists of well-settled, compact layers widespread which on high-altitude shady slopes cover a poorly structured old snowpack fundament.

Nighttime skies will be mostsly clear or partially cloudy. In morning, cloud cover will gradually increase, soon the higher summits will be shrouded in clouds. The latter part of the day will bring variable weather and visibility, with snow showers and graupel alongside brighter intervals. Temperature at 2000m: -1 degree; at 3000m: -7 degrees. Brisk northerly-to-northeasterly winds at high altitudes near the showery regions.

Avalanche danger is not expected to change significantly.