Upper Passeier Valley

Weakly bonded old snow is to be evaluated with care and prudence. Wind slabs require caution.

Weakly bonded old snow is to be evaluated with care and prudence. Wind slabs require caution.

In some places avalanches can be triggered in the weakly bonded old snow and reach medium size in isolated cases. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular on steep west to north to east facing slopes above approximately 2400 m and on steep sunny slopes above approximately 2600 m. These places are sometimes covered with new snow and are barely recognisable. Caution is to be exercised at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack. The prevalence of the avalanche prone locations will increase with altitude. In addition the wind slabs of yesterday in particular above approximately 2400 m are prone to triggering now as before. Caution is to be exercised in particular on steep shady slopes at elevated altitudes, and in the vicinity of peaks. As a consequence of warming during the day and solar radiation small and medium-sized wet and gliding avalanches are possible. Careful route selection is recommended.

Towards its base, the snowpack is faceted, especially on steep shady slopes above approximately 2400 m, as well as on steep sunny slopes at elevated altitudes. The fresh snow of yesterday as well as the wind slabs formed by the sometimes storm force westerly wind are lying on soft layers on northwest, east and south facing slopes and generally at elevated altitudes. Sunshine and high temperatures will give rise as the day progresses to moistening of the snowpack.

On Saturday it will be mostly sunny. The wind will be moderate. As a consequence of mild temperatures and solar radiation the snow drift accumulations stabilised. The old snowpack remains prone to triggering in some places.