Chiemgau Alps East

Older snowdrifts prone to triggering, covered by fresh snow

Older snowdrifts prone to triggering, covered by fresh snow

Main problem: older snowdrifts, blanketed by fresh snow, difficult to recognize. Isolated avalanche prone locations found near ridgelines in north-to-east-to southeast aspects on steep slopes and in wind-loaded gullies and bowls. Medium-sized slab avalanches can be triggered particularly by large additional loading, e.g. by a group of skiers without maintaining distances. Furthermore, at intermediate altitudes isolated naturally triggered glide-snow avalanches are occurring. This applies to steep grass-covered slopes in all aspects. Depending on snow depths, medium-sized avalanches cannot be ruled out.

By Thursday midday, up to 20 cm of fresh snow is anticipated. Moderate-strength NW winds will transported the lightly bonded fresh snow to a thin layer on top of expansively metamorphosed (faceted) crystals on the old snowpack surface. Bonding of layers is inadequate. Older snowdrifts are blanketed, lie bonded atop loosely-packed cold layers of snow and are prone to triggering. Below the treeline the snowpack has settled well, ground-level layers are often moist which in turn furthers gliding snow movements.

Avalanche danger will increase on Thursday as a result of additional snowfall.