Valgrisenche

From late morning the wind slabs will increase in size. Very steep, little used slopes are to be evaluated with care and prudence.

From late morning the wind slabs will increase in size. Very steep, little used slopes are to be evaluated with care and prudence.

The fresh wind slabs represent the main danger. These avalanche prone locations are to be found also adjacent to ridgelines and in pass areas and in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. They can be released by a single winter sport participant. Especially transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack where weaknesses exist in the old snowpack are unfavourable. These can in isolated cases be released in deep layers and reach quite a large size. Whumpfing sounds and shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack serve as an alarm indicating the danger. As a consequence of warming during the day, the likelihood of dry and moist avalanches being released will increase for a while in particular on very steep sunny slopes at intermediate altitudes.

The strong wind will transport the loosely bonded old snow. The sometimes large wind slabs of the last few days have bonded quite well with the old snowpack. On very steep slopes hardly any more avalanches were reported. In particular at intermediate and high altitudes snow depths vary greatly, depending on the infuence of the wind. Faceted weak layers exist in the bottom section of the snowpack at intermediate and high altitudes.

The wind will be moderate to strong adjacent to ridgelines. The avalanche danger will persist. The snowpack remains in some cases prone to triggering.