Avalanche forecast

Valgrisenche

Regione Valle d'Aosta
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Avalanche danger

Above treeline
2 · Moderate
Below treeline
2 · Moderate
Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

The northwesterly wind has transported the loosely bonded old snow. In particular at intermediate and high altitudes the avalanche prone locations are more widespread.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind slab

    • Above treeline
  • Persistent weak layers

    • Below 2,800 m

Avalanche Activity

The northwesterly wind has transported the loosely bonded old snow. In particular at intermediate and high altitudes the avalanche prone locations are more widespread.

The sometimes deep wind slabs of the last three days represent the main danger. These avalanche prone locations are to be found also adjacent to ridgelines and in pass areas and in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain above approximately 2300 m. They are clearly recognisable to the trained eye. They can be released by a single winter sport participant. This applies in particular at their margins. Especially transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack where weaknesses exist in the old snowpack are unfavourable. The prevalence of avalanche prone locations and likelihood of triggering will increase with altitude. In addition a moderate (level 2) danger of natural dry avalanches exists, especially in case of releases originating from very steep east and south facing starting zones at high altitude.

Snowpack Structure

In particular along the border with Switzerland in some localities 5 cm of snow, but less in some localities, fell during the night above approximately 2000 m. The northwesterly wind has transported the loosely bonded old snow. The hard wind slabs of the last three days are lying on weak layers in all aspects. On very steep slopes individual medium-sized to large avalanches were reported. In particular at intermediate and high altitudes snow depths vary greatly, depending on the infuence of the wind. Faceted weak layers exist in the snowpack in all altitude zones.

Tendency

The wind will be moderate to strong. As the day progresses as a consequence of warming during the day and solar radiation there will be an increase in the danger of dry and moist avalanches within the current danger level. The snowpack remains in some cases prone to triggering.

Bulletin data: Regione Autonoma Valle d'Aosta (via EAWS / avalanche.report)

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