Middle Lys Valley

As a consequence of new snow and wind the prevalence and size of the avalanche prone locations will increase during the night.

As a consequence of new snow and wind the prevalence and size of the avalanche prone locations will increase during the night.

5 to 15 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, will fall until the early morning in all altitude zones. The southeasterly wind will transport the new snow. The fresh snow and especially the wind-blown snow drifts, both soft and hard, cover a thin layer of old snow. Single winter sport participants can release avalanches as before, including medium-sized ones. Mostly they are shallow, caution is to be exercised in particular in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain, and on very steep slopes. On very steep shady slopes the avalanches can be triggered in deep layers of the snowpack and reach large size in isolated cases. Slopes that have been little used this winter thus far where weaknesses exist in the old snowpack are especially unfavourable. Isolated whumpfing sounds and shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack serve as an alarm indicating the danger. Careful route selection and spacing between individuals are recommended.

As a consequence of new snow and a moderate to strong southeasterly wind, wind slabs will form above the tree line. In addition the new snow-covered wind slabs of the weekend are prone to triggering in some cases still, especially on very steep slopes. Faceted weak layers exist in the old snowpack in particular on west, north and east facing slopes. Several medium-sized slab avalanches have been released in the last few days. On Friday on steep slopes small and medium-sized avalanches occurred naturally.

The meteorological conditions will facilitate a slow change towards better conditions. The danger will persist.