Allgäu Alps West

Beware: fresh, trigger-sensitive snowdrifts

Beware: fresh, trigger-sensitive snowdrifts

With ascending altitude, fresh snowdrifts are increasingly prone to triggering. One single winter sports enthusiast can trigger slab avalanches. Danger zones occur particularly on steep shady slopes, but also in wind-loaded gullies and bowls and behind sudden drops in the terrain. The old snow can trigger avalanches particularly from large additional loading. The avalanche prone locations are not visible, especially on steep shady slopes. If a release sweeps along the entire snowpack with it, the avalanche can grow to medium size. Activities in backcountry demand careful evaluation of the terrain and the dangers as well as a large measure of restraint.

The 15-20cm of fresh snow and snowdrift accumulations at high altitudes from recent days lie deposited on top of a weak old snowpack surface, especially on steep shady slopes. In some ridgeline zones, in wind-loaded gullies and bowls and behind sharp drops in the terrain, freshly generated snowdrifts have accumulated which are prone to triggering.

During the nocturnal hours, snowfall is anticipated down to about 500m. On Thursday, fog and poor visibility will dominate, amid light to moderate snowfall. Temperature at 2000m: -6 degrees; at 3000m: -13 degrees. Moderate westerly winds at high altitudes.

Fresh snow and drifts deposited atop the old snowpack surface remain prone to triggering.