Werdenfels Alps

Trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations are blanketed by new snow and difficult to detect

Trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations are blanketed by new snow and difficult to detect

At high altitudes avalanche danger is moderate, elsewhere it is low. The main problem are snowdrifts. Quite a few avalanche prone locations are located in steep ridgeline terrain in NW-E-SE aspects as well as in wind-loaded gullies and bowls where small-sized slab avalanches are still triggerable by one sole person; whereas medium-sized slab avalanches can only be triggered by large additional loading.

The little new snow forecast by Thursday morning will loosely blanket small trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations without wind impact which will make them difficult to detect. Old snowpack depths are below average and strongly wind-impacted. Windward zones are partly blown bare down to the ground; leeward drifted snow accumulates in steep gullies and bowls adjacent to ridgelines. The older snowdrift layers have gradually settled and bonded with each other. However, weak intermediate layers still persist at transitions to the old snowpack.

It will stay chilly and time and again there will be a little snowfall. Avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly over the next few days.