Valsavaranche

In steep terrain there is a danger of falling on the hard snow surface.

In steep terrain there is a danger of falling on the hard snow surface.

The mostly small wind slabs of the last few days represent the main danger. Winter sport participants can release avalanches in isolated cases. These avalanche prone locations are to be found in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. They are clearly recognisable to the trained eye. Also transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack where weaknesses exist in the old snowpack are unfavourable. Remotely triggered avalanches are possible in isolated cases. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack indicate this situation.

2 to 5 cm of snow, and up to 10 cm in some localities, fell on Tuesday. Less snow than usual is lying. The mostly small wind slabs of the last few days have bonded quite well with the old snowpack in all aspects. The snowpack will be generally subject to considerable local variations. As a consequence of low temperatures the snowpack became faceted during the last few days and has therefore lost strength, in particular at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack, when entering gullies and bowls for example. Steep, little used shady slopes: On Tuesday above approximately 2700 m individual small avalanches were released.

Warming. The avalanche danger will persist.