Rhemes Valley

On wind-loaded slopes an unfavourable avalanche situation will persist in some regions.

On wind-loaded slopes an unfavourable avalanche situation will persist in some regions.

As a consequence of new snow and a strong wind from westerly directions, extensive wind slabs formed by Wednesday in all aspects. The avalanche prone locations are covered with new snow and are barely recognisable because of the poor visibility. Even single persons can release avalanches in some places. Such avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular on wind-loaded slopes above approximately 2000 m. In very isolated cases they can be triggered in the weakly bonded old snow and reach large size. Whumpfing sounds serve as an alarm indicating the danger. Backcountry touring and other off-piste activities call for caution and restraint. Individual loose snow avalanches are possible, even medium-sized ones.

40 to 80 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, fell in the last five days. The sometimes strong wind has transported some snow. Fresh snow and large quantities of wind-drifted snow of the last few days are bonding only slowly with the old snowpack. In all aspects snow depths vary greatly above approximately 2400 m, depending on the infuence of the wind. Adjacent to ridgelines and in pass areas and at high altitudes and in high Alpine regions thus far only a little snow is lying. At low and intermediate altitudes less snow than usual is lying.

The avalanche danger will decrease gradually.