Northern Lepontine Alps

The wind slabs must be evaluated with care and prudence in particular on steep north, northeast and east facing slopes.

The wind slabs must be evaluated with care and prudence in particular on steep north, northeast and east facing slopes.

The wind slabs of last week can be released, especially by large additional loads,, caution is to be exercised at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack, when entering gullies and bowls for example. In isolated cases the avalanches can be released in the faceted old snow and reach large size. In little used terrain the situation is rather unfavourable. Backcountry touring calls for a certain restraint.

In all aspects snow depths vary greatly above approximately 2000 m, depending on the infuence of the wind. Adjacent to ridgelines and in pass areas at elevated altitudes hardly any snow is lying. In some places new snow and wind slabs are lying on old snow containing large grains.