Werdenfels Alps

Snowdrifts at higher altitudes; wet snow at intermediate altitudes.

Snowdrifts at higher altitudes; wet snow at intermediate altitudes.

Avalanche danger above 1800 m is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. The main problem are fresh snowdrifts at higher altitudes. They can in some places be triggered even by the weight of one sole person and release a slab avalanche. Avalanche prone locations are found on steep northwest to north to southeast facing slopes adjacent to ridgelines, as well as in freshly wind-loaded gullies and and bowls. In isolated cases avalanches can grow to medium size. It is possible that isolated wet loose snow or glide snow avalanches trigger naturally in steep rocky terrain as well as on steep grass-covered slopes at intermediate altitudes. Avalanches tend to be small.

Up to high altitudes the old snowpack is thoroughly moist and has settled. Monday night will see the onset of slight precipitations, below 1600 m in the form of rainfall, accompanied by strong wind. At higher altitudes fresh small snowdrift accumulations are generated which will mostly bond well with the moist old snowpack surface. Sometimes, weak intermediate layers are embedded in the fresh and also older snowdrift masses. These can be prone to triggering.

The next few days will be cooler. Strong winds and a bit of new snow will make the snowdrift danger more relevant again.