Southern Lepontine Alps

The wind slabs of the last few days represent the main danger.

The wind slabs of the last few days represent the main danger.

As a consequence of the sometimes strong wind the wind slabs will increase in size. The fresh snow and very particularly the resulting wind slabs can be released easily, or, in isolated cases naturally above the tree line, especially on very steep slopes adjacent to ridgelines and in gullies and bowls. Dry avalanches can in isolated cases be triggered in the old snowpack and reach quite a large size in the regions exposed to heavier precipitation. Apart from the danger of being buried, restraint should be exercised as well in view of the danger of avalanches sweeping people along and giving rise to falls. This also applies in areas where the snow cover is rather shallow.

Up to 30 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, has fallen since Sunday. Towards its base, the snowpack is faceted and weak. In some places wind slabs are lying on a hard crust. In high Alpine regions snow depths vary greatly, depending on the infuence of the wind. In all altitude zones only a small amount of snow is lying for the time of year.