There is a moderate avalanche risk above 1900 metres. With new fallen snow and a prone-to-triggering westerly wind, prone-to-triggering snowdrift accumulations can continue to form. These can be triggered by individuals as small to medium-sized slab avalanches, especially behind broad ridges and ridgelines in northern, eastern and southern aspects as well as in gullies and bowls. The avalanche prone locations are easily recognisable with sufficient visibility. Often, some of the snow has covered over the exposed areas, so beware of the risk of injury.
Snowpack
The existing snow cover, snowpack is characterised by the strong winds of the last few days. Fresh snowdrift accumulations may form on New Year's Eve with around 15 cm of new fallen snow and persistently strong winds. In many places, they will cover soft layers in the transition to persistent weak layers or existing drift snow packs. The connection between them is poor. On the shady slopes, there are sometimes weak layers of faceted crystals in the old snow foundation. The composition and thickness of the snow cover, snowpack varies greatly in a small area. There is often insufficient old snowpack.
Tendency
It will be very cold again on Friday and next weekend with a fresh supply of cold air, and it will remain windy. However, there is unlikely to be any new fallen snow. No significant change in the avalanche situation with wind and cold, wind slab remains the main problem.
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2000m
Avoid wind slabs in the steep terrain at high altitudes!
Fresh and older wind slabs are to be noted, especially in the higher elevations, sometimes even from the tree line upwards. Strong to stormy winds from the west to north-west have caused unstable drifts to form. There are avalanche prone locations mainly in areas adjacent to the ridgeline, bowls, gullies and in places also distant from ridgelines. The triggering of slab avalanches of up to medium size is possible due to low additional loads. The mostly easily recognisable avalanche prone locations should be avoided. Be aware of the risk of falling on the hard old snowpack.
Snowpack
There will be some new fallen snow on Thursday night. The strong to stormy winds from the west to northwest over the last few days have left their mark on the snow cover, snowpack. Snowdrift accumulations may contain thin intermediate layers. There is insufficient bonding to the hardness of the old snowpack. Surface hoar has been covered. The thin old snowpack contains faceted crystals that have been transformed. The snow depths are very below average, even at high altitudes.
Tendency
No significant change in the snow and avalanche situation.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Slab avalanches can also reach medium size in the Berchtesgaden Alps.
The avalanche risk is moderate above the tree line and low below it. In the steep terrain adjacent to the ridgeline in northern, eastern and southern aspects as well as in gullies and bowls, wind slab can be triggered in some places as a small to medium slab avalanche by a small additional load. In addition to the risk of burial, the risk of being swept away and falling must be taken into account.
Snowpack
The snow from Tuesday lies on a melt-freeze crust or, on the sunny side, up to high altitudes on the ground that has already been covered by snow. In places, the connection to the melt-freeze crust is poor due to embedded surface hoar. Intermediate layers prone to triggering may be present within fresh snowdrift accumulations. At higher and higher altitudes, faceted crystals can be found below the old melt-freeze crust down to the ground.
Tendency
With stormy westerly winds and some new fallen snow, wind slab will continue to be problematic on Friday.
Danger level
2200m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2200m
Persistent weak layer
2600m
Prone to triggering fresh wind slab.
The avalanche danger is moderate above 2200 metres and low below. Storms from the northwest have been depositing fresh wind slab snow on an unfavourably built-up old snow surface for several days. From around 2200 metres, avalanches can be triggered by individuals in some places and occasionally become medium-sized. There is a risk of burial in particular near terrain traps, i.e. in areas adjacent to the ridgeline, crest or summit. The snow packs are usually easily recognisable.
Snowpack
The snow cover, snowpack is highly variable. On the surface, in leeward areas, there is a succession of fresh drift snow layers on the melt-freeze crust of the old snow surface. Fractures are most possible here, the drift snow layers are rather poorly connected to each other and to the melt-freeze crust. Underneath, there is usually edgy snow with no binding. Due to the overall heavily built-up transformed snow cover, the potential for fracture propagation in the old snowpack is generally low. The snow depth is well below average at all altitudes.
Tendency
The avalanche danger will remain moderate at high altitudes on Friday.
Danger level
2200m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2200m
Fresh wind slab prone to triggering.
The avalanche danger is low. With new fallen snow and stormy winds from the northwest, fresh prone-to-triggering snow packs have been forming for a few days, which can be triggered by individuals in a few places from around 2200 metres. Most avalanches remain small, but enough snow could accumulate in isolated terrain traps to bury people. Be careful behind exposed ridges and ridgelines, in gullies and bowls. In shady slopes, there are still very occasional release points in persistent weak layers that are difficult to disturb. The drift snow packs are easier to recognise than weakly covered stones.
Snowpack
The snow cover, snowpack is highly variable. On the surface, in leeward areas, there is a succession of fresh drift snow layers on the melt-freeze crust of the old snow surface. Fractures are most possible here, the drift snow layers are rather poorly connected to each other and to the melt-freeze crust. Underneath, there is usually edgy snow with no binding. Due to the overall heavily built-up transformed snow cover, the potential for fracture propagation in the old snowpack is generally low. The snow depth is well below average at all altitudes.
Tendency
The avalanche danger remains low on Friday.
Danger level
Low avalanche danger. Beware fresh snowdrifts.
Isolated avalanches can be triggered in extremely steep terrain. The releases are generally small-sized.. Freshly generated small-sized snowdrift accumulations require attentiveness in high-altitude ridgeline terrain, gullies and bowls. The risks of taking a fall and being injured outweigh those of being buried in snow masses.
Snowpack
The small amounts of fresh fallen snow from Tuesday were deposited atop a superficially melt-freeze encrusted old snowpack surface. On shady slopes the snow lies on top of an expansively metamorposed and generally loosely-packed (faceted, metamorphosed, unbonded crystals) snowpack surface. On south-facing slopes the ground which is bare of snow up to high altitudes got a few centimetres of fresh snowfall. At high altitudes, strong-velocity westerly winds will generate fresh snowdrift accumulations. Since there are only small amounts of transportable snow, the drifts will remain small. On shady slopes in high alpine regions, isolated weak layers occur inside the snowpack. Little information from outlying terrain is currently available to the Avalanche Warning Services.
Tendency
Avalanche danger is not expected to change significantly. In spite of strong-velocity winds, only small snowdrift accumulations will be generated.
Danger level
1900m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
1900m
Beware of prone to triggering snow packs
The avalanche risk is generally low. However, stormy westerly winds and some new fallen snow at higher altitudes have created isolated fresh snowdrift accumulations, which can be triggered as small slab avalanches by even a small additional load. This is especially the case behind exposed ridges and ridgelines as well as in gullies and bowls. The avalanche prone locations are generally easy to recognise. In most cases, the risk of entrainment and injury outweighs the risk of burial.
Snowpack
The existing snow cover, snowpack is characterised by the strong wind influence of the last few days. In places, fresh windslab snow was deposited on a crusted old snowpack under the influence of strong winds. In many places, a built-up transformed surface or older wind slab is covered. The connection to each other is poor. The composition and thickness of the snow cover, snowpack varies greatly in a small area. There is often insufficient old snowpack.
Tendency
It will be very cold again on Friday and next weekend with a fresh supply of cold air, and it will remain windy. However, there is unlikely to be any new fallen snow. Areas of drifting snow prone to triggering will remain the main problem for the time being.
Danger level
Rare release points and risk of injury from stones.
The avalanche risk is low, but injuries from stones and falling remain the main dangers. Some wind slab has accumulated on a small scale. This is easily recognisable and can only be disturbed by individuals in isolated cases. In gullies and bowls adjacent to the ridgeline, crests or summits in shady slopes, there are isolated trigger points in persistent weak layers that are difficult to disturb.
Snowpack
There is a below-average amount of snow and the snow cover, snowpack is highly variable in the interior. In shady slopes at high altitudes, weak layers of faceted crystals are occasionally preserved in the snow cover, mostly in the vicinity of crusts. The fracture propagation potential is generally low due to the overall highly structured snow cover, snowpack.
Tendency
The avalanche danger remains low on Friday.
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Avoid small, fresh snowdrift accumulations in the steep terrain adjacent to the ridgeline
The avalanche risk is low. In the steep terrain adjacent to the ridgeline in northern and eastern aspects, small, fresh snowdrift accumulations can be triggered locally as a small snow slab by a small additional load. Be aware of the risk of being swept away and falling.
Snowpack
The little new fallen snow from Tuesday lies on an often load-bearing melt-freeze crust or up to high altitudes on the sunny slopes on the ground that has already been covered with snow. The freshening wind cannot transport much snow, which is why only small snowdrift accumulations are developing. In some places, these lie prone to triggering on surface hoar. At higher and higher altitudes, there are often faceted crystals below the melt-freeze crust that have built up to the ground.
Tendency
With new fallen snow and stormy winds, the wind slab problem will increase on Friday.
Danger level
Watch out locally for small snowdrift accumulations.
The avalanche danger is low. Up to 20 cm of new fallen snow has been brought down by north-westerly winds over the last few days on ground that was previously mostly bare. Snow relevant for a burial could only accumulate in snow traps that are blown in and easily recognisable. However, the risk of avalanches is outweighed by the risk of injury from stones underneath.
Snowpack
There is a succession of thin layers of drifting snow on the meadows. The snow cover is well below average and very variable.
Tendency
The avalanche danger remains low on Friday.
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2000m
Wind slab
Treeline
The danger of avalanches is low. Be careful in fresh Snowdrift accumulations!
The snowpack is mostly stable. In some places in the High alpine regions, especially on fresh snowdrift accumulations of blown snow, a small, clustered Avalanche can be triggered under higher loads.
Snowpack
dp.4: cold following warm / warm following cold
There is little snow, and the peaks and ridges are in some places blown bare. During the last deterioration, about 10 cm of New fallen snow fell, on Sunny slope below 2000 m on terrestrial ground.
In the high alpine regions, weak layers may be present in the old snow cover.
On prominent ones, the snow has already been frozen off and then frozen over, forming a drift.
Tendency
Friday will be cloudy, with occasional showers.
The weekend will be cloudy and foggy, windy and snowy. The danger of Avalanche will increase!
Danger level
Isolated avalanche prone locations occur in persistent weak layer of old snow.
Isolated avalanches can be triggered in the weak persistent layer of the old snow on very steep shady slopes. The releases are generally small-sized.. Freshly generated small-sized snowdrift accumulations require attentiveness in high-altitude ridgeline terrain, gullies and bowls. The risks of taking a fall and being injured outweigh those of being buried in snow masses.
Snowpack
The small amounts of fresh fallen snow from Tuesday were deposited atop a superficially melt-freeze encrusted old snowpack surface. On shady slopes the snow lies on top of an expansively metamorposed and generally loosely-packed (faceted, metamorphosed, unbonded crystals) snowpack surface. On south-facing slopes the ground which is bare of snow up to high altitudes got a few centimetres of fresh snowfall. At high altitudes, strong-velocity westerly winds will generate fresh snowdrift accumulations. Since there are only small amounts of transportable snow, the drifts will remain small. On shady slopes in high alpine regions, isolated weak layers occur inside the snowpack. Little information from outlying terrain is currently available to the Avalanche Warning Services.
Tendency
Avalanche danger is not expected to change significantly. In spite of strong-velocity winds, only small snowdrift accumulations will be generated.
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2000m
Wind slab
Treeline
The danger of Avalanche is low. Be careful in fresh snowdrift accumulations!
The snowpack is mostly stable. In some places in the High alpine regions, especially on fresh snowdrift accumulations of blown snow, a small, clustered Avalanche can be triggered under higher loads.
Snowpack
dp.4: cold following warm / warm following cold
There is little snow, and the peaks and ridges are in some places blown bare. During the last deterioration, about 10 cm of New fallen snow fell, on Sunny slope below 2000 m on terrestrial ground.
In the High alpine regions, weak layers may be present in the Old snow cover.
On prominent ones, the snow has already been frozen off and then frozen over, forming a drift.
Tendency
Friday will be cloudy. The weekend will be cloudy and foggy, windy and snowy. The danger of Avalanche will increase!
