Karwendel Mountains

Karwendel West

Fri 19 Dec

Day Risk Profile

1

Low

Avalanche Problems

Avalanche Activity

Wind slabs require caution.

Wind slabs require caution, in particular at elevated altitudes. Avalanches can in very isolated cases be released in the old snowpackSnow layers deposited from earlier precipitation, prior to fresh fallen snow. Old snow layers consist of metamorphosed snow crystals.EAWS glossary. Such avalanche prone locationsLocations delineated by aspect or altitude where avalanches can trigger and people or objects are at risk.EAWS glossary are to be found on very steep shady slopes at elevated altitudes. They are very rare. Apart from the danger of being buried, restraint should be exercised in particular in view of the danger of avalanches sweeping people along and giving rise to falls.

Outlook

→ Constant avalanche danger

20 December 2025

Low avalanche danger will prevail.

Snowpack & Weather

Snowpack ▾

Shady slopes above approximately 2600 m: The mostly small wind slabs are lying on soft layers. Faceted weak layersSnowpack layer in which the crystals are poorly bonded and the layer has the potential to fail. Typical crystals in dry weak layers causing avalanches are : precipitation particles; surface hoar; faceted crystals; hollow crystals; graupel. Generally >1mm in size, loose grains with few bonds Wet weak layers can be formed by all snow crystal/grain types.EAWS glossary exist in the bottom section of the snowpackSnow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary. All aspectsDirection in which a slope faces as indicated by compass direction of the fall line; i.e. a north slope faces in a northerly direction.EAWS glossary below approximately 2600 m: The snowpack is largely stable and its surface has a crustLayer of hard-compacted snow resulting from a melt-freeze process or wind.EAWS glossary. The snowpack will be subject to considerable local variations. Less snow than usual is lying in all altitude zones.