Rhemes Valley

Backcountry touring calls for extensive experience in the assessment of avalanche danger and great restraint.

Backcountry touring calls for extensive experience in the assessment of avalanche danger and great restraint.

10 to 20 cm of snow will fall until the early morning. Fresh snow and large quantities of wind-drifted snow of the last four days can be released easily or naturally in particular on steep shady slopes above the tree line, in particular in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. In starting zones where no previous releases have taken place and in steep rocky terrain more frequent medium-sized and, in isolated cases, large wet avalanches are to be expected as the day progresses as a consequence of warming during the day and solar radiation, in particular in case of releases originating from sunny starting zones above the tree line. In the typical avalanche paths the avalanches can reach as far as the valley bottom.

Over a wide area 80 to 120 cm of snow has fallen since Wednesday above approximately 2300 m. The sometimes storm force wind has transported the new snow significantly. The snowpack will be generally subject to considerable local variations. Towards its surface, the snowpack is unfavourably layered and its surface consists of loosely bonded snow lying on a crust that is strong in many cases. Sunshine and high temperatures will give rise as the day progresses to rapid moistening of the snowpack in particular on sunny slopes.

The avalanche danger will decrease gradually.