Chiemgau Alps East

Snowdrifts extremely prone to triggering in some places

Snowdrifts extremely prone to triggering in some places

Avalanche danger in the Bavarian Alps is moderate. Main problem: the snowdrift accumulations which in places can be triggered even by minimum additional loading (1 person). Danger zones occur on steep slopes in all aspects, they increase both in size and in frequency with ascending altitude. Slab avalanches are mostly small sized, but can be larger when they fracture down to more deeply embedded layers. On steep grass-covered slopes and in wooded zones in all aspects, glide-snow avalanches can trigger naturally. Glide cracks are indicators of threatening danger.

Fresh small snowdrift accumulations are being generated by westerly winds, they are prone to triggering atop the loose fresh fallen snow and cover the old snowdrifts beneath them. Also inside the snowpack are older snowdrift masses between intermediate layers which are often quite prone to triggering. At mid-level the base is often wet; the result: it glides over the grassy slopes. Overall the snow depths are significantly above average for this juncture of the season.

At low altitudes the rising temperatures will soon create a wet-snow problem