Allgäu Alps West

Trigger-prone snowdrifts, wet avalanches due to rain, increasing glide-snow avalanches

Trigger-prone snowdrifts, wet avalanches due to rain, increasing glide-snow avalanches

Fresh snowdrifts are trigger-prone and the main danger at high altitudes. Danger zones occur in ridgeline terrain, behind discontinuities and in wind-loaded gullies and bowls. Small-to-medium sized avalanches can be triggered by one person. Pay attention to the risks of falling and being swept along. Where there is rain impact, wet slides and avalanches are possible. On steep grass-covered slopes and rocky plates in all aspects, increasing small-to-medium glide-snow avalanches are possible, avoid zones below glide cracks.

Regionally wind strength is intensifying, fresh and old snow is being transported. Fresh drifts are often deposited atop soft loose old snowpack layers or, esp in shady steep terrain, atop surface hoar and are prone to triggering. Zones which are rain-impacted have a weakened snowpack. The old snowpack is well consolidated and stable. The warm ground and wet lower layers are reinforcing the gliding movement of the entire snowpack.

Nocturnal hours: Dry, increasingly cloudy. Wednesday daytime: Reduced visibility due to fog, diffuse light due to high-altitude clouds. Intermittent light snowfall (5-10 cm at high altitudes). In the afternoon, dry in most regions, scattered clouds. Noticeably higher temperatures. At 2000 m: +4 degrees. Strong to storm-strength S/SW winds.

On Thursday a cold front will bring increasing amounts of rain and snow. Avalanche danger will increase.