Northern Lepontine Alps

Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow require caution. The danger of dry and moist avalanches will increase a little during the day.

Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow require caution. The danger of dry and moist avalanches will increase a little during the day.

The older wind slabs can as before be released by people and reach medium size. This applies especially in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain, as well as at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack. The avalanches can be released in the faceted old snow and reach medium size. Caution is to be exercised on very steep slopes. Gradual increase in danger of dry and moist avalanches as a consequence of warming during the day and solar radiation. Below approximately 2800 m small and medium-sized moist snow slides and avalanches are possible, in particular on rocky sunny slopes, as well as at the base of rock walls.

The wind slabs are bonding only slowly with the old snowpack in particular on shady slopes above the tree line. Towards its base, the snowpack is faceted and weak. In all aspects snow depths vary greatly at high altitudes and in high Alpine regions, depending on the infuence of the wind. At low altitude from a snow sport perspective, in most cases insufficient snow is lying.