Maira and Grana Valleys

The new snow and wind slabs represent the main danger.

The new snow and wind slabs represent the main danger.

The large quantity of fresh snow of the last few days and the wind slabs formed by the easterly wind represent the main danger. Numerous dry avalanches are possible, but they can be very large in isolated cases. They can in some places be released by a single winter sport participant and reach large size. This applies especially on very steep slopes adjacent to ridgelines and in gullies and bowls. The current avalanche situation calls for careful route selection. Dry avalanches can in some cases penetrate deep layers. As a consequence of warming during the day and the solar radiation, the likelihood of moist avalanches being released will increase a little in particular on rocky slopes at low and intermediate altitudes.

Over a wide area 60 to 90 cm of snow fell in the last six days. The large quantity of fresh snow of the last few days as well as the wind slabs formed during the snowfall are poorly bonded with the old snowpack in particular on north to southwest to southeast facing aspects. Rutschblock tests and natural avalanches confirm this situation.

The weather conditions will foster a gradual strengthening of the snowpack in particular at low and intermediate altitudes.