Berchtesgaden Alps

At higher altitudes 20 to 30 centimeters of new snow blanket older snowdrifts which are still prone to triggering

At higher altitudes 20 to 30 centimeters of new snow blanket older snowdrifts which are still prone to triggering

Avalanche danger above 1700 m is moderate; below that altitude danger is low. Main problem: fresh snow. Isolated medium-sized, but mostly small loose snow avalanches can trigger naturally in steep rocky terrain. In addition, a few avalanche prone locations persist in the old snowpack at high altitude in steep ridgeline terrain in NW/E/SE aspects as well as at transitions to 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.

20 cm of new snow have fallen today (Thursday). Another 10 cm of new snow are anticipated by Friday afternoon. The loose new snow was deposited without wind impact and has bonded well with the wind-impacted old snowpack surfaces. In steep high altitude terrain adjacent to ridgelines it blankets older trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations, where weak intermediate layers also still persist at transitions to the old snowpack. Old snowpack depths are below average and strongly wind-impacted. At intermediate altitudes the fresh snow was deposited directly on the bare ground or blankets consolidated smooth old snowpack surfaces.

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.