Rhemes Valley

Fresh wind slabs represent the main danger. The danger of moist and wet avalanches will increase during the day.

Fresh wind slabs represent the main danger. The danger of moist and wet avalanches will increase during the day.

As a consequence of a strong wind from northwesterly directions, large wind slabs formed. They must be evaluated with care and prudence. Single winter sport participants can release avalanches in some places, caution is to be exercised in particular at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack, when entering gullies and bowls for example. In particular here the avalanches can be released in the old snow and reach quite a large size. With the freezing level at 2600 metres, combined with the foehn wind and solar radiation, some wet and moist avalanches are still possible at medium mountain altitudes on slopes that have not yet been completely cleared in recent days. Backcountry touring and other off-piste activities call for experience in the assessment of avalanche danger and caution. Careful route selection is recommended.

A lot of snow fell in the last seven days, especially along the border with France. Until Monday the wind will be strong over a wide area. The snowpack is unfavourably layered. In these regions at intermediate and high altitudes a lot of snow is lying for the time of year. Adjacent to ridgelines and in pass areas snow depths vary greatly, depending on the infuence of the wind. Some large and, in isolated cases, very large powder avalanches have been released in the last few days. Isolated medium-sized and, in isolated cases, large slab avalanches have been released by people in the last two days.

The weather will be very warm. The weather conditions will foster a stabilisation of the snow drift accumulations. The danger of wet and gliding avalanches will increase.