Varaita and Po Valleys

New snow and wind slabs along the border with France.

New snow and wind slabs along the border with France.

The wind slabs can be released on steep northeast, southeast and southwest facing slopes above approximately 2200 m. Caution is to be exercised in particular in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain, in particular along the border with France. Several small and, in isolated cases, medium-sized dry slab avalanches are possible as a consequence of new snow and strong wind.

In some regions 10 to 20 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, has fallen since Sunday above approximately 1800 m. The sometimes storm force wind has transported a lot of snow. The new snow is lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack in particular on steep shady slopes above approximately 2200 m. Towards its base, the snowpack is faceted and weak. The sometimes strong wind has transported the new snow significantly. Snow depths vary greatly, depending on the infuence of the wind. Only a small amount of snow is lying for the time of year in all altitude zones.

The weather conditions will facilitate a gradual strengthening of the snow drift accumulations.