Valgrisenche

Off-piste activities call for caution and restraint. Along the border with France and along the border with Switzerland the avalanche prone locations are larger.

Off-piste activities call for caution and restraint. Along the border with France and along the border with Switzerland the avalanche prone locations are larger.

As a consequence of new snow and a strong to storm force wind from northerly directions, large wind slabs formed in the last two days. New snow and wind slabs can as before be released by a single winter sport participant. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain and in extremely steep terrain. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack indicate an unfavourable avalanche situation, caution is to be exercised at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack. Fresh snow and large quantities of wind-drifted snow of the last few days are in some cases still prone to triggering. As a consequence of warming and solar radiation, the natural activity of small and medium dry and moist avalanches will gradually increase, in particular on rocky sunny slopes, as well as at the base of rock walls in particular below approximately 2900 m.

40 to 60 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, fell in the last few days above approximately 2000 m. The wind was strong to storm force. The fresh snow as well as the wind slabs are lying on the unfavourable surface of an old snowpack in particular on shady slopes. The snowpack is unfavourably layered. Tuesday: Several medium-sized to large dry slab avalanches have been released as a consequence of the strong northwesterly wind. Natural avalanches and avalanches triggered by explosives confirm the unfavourable bonding of the snowpack. In all aspects snow depths vary greatly above approximately 2000 m, depending on the infuence of the wind. Shady slopes: The old snowpack is faceted and weak.

As a consequence of rising temperatures and solar radiation and the light to moderate wind, the snow drift accumulations will stabilise during the next few days. The danger of moist avalanches will increase a little during the day.