Maira and Grana Valleys

Individual avalanche prone locations are to be found in steep terrain at high altitudes and in high Alpine regions.

Individual avalanche prone locations are to be found in steep terrain at high altitudes and in high Alpine regions.

Towards its surface, the snowpack is largely stable and its surface has a melt-freeze crust that is strong in many cases. Melt-freeze crusts exist in the old snowpack in particular at elevated altitudes. Weak layers exist deeper in the old snowpack especially on steep north, northeast and northwest facing slopes. Avalanches can in some places be released in the old snowpack, mostly by large additional loads. On very steep slopes and at the base of rock walls and behind abrupt changes in the terrain the situation is more precarious. In steep terrain there is a danger of falling on the hard snow surface.

As a consequence of highly fluctuating temperatures a crust formed on the surface during the last few days, in particular on sunny slopes below approximately 2500 m, and at low altitude. Melt-freeze crusts exist in the old snowpack in particular at elevated altitudes. Weak layers exist deeper in the old snowpack especially on steep north, northeast and northwest facing slopes, especially in areas where the snow cover is rather shallow. In all altitude zones only a small amount of snow is lying for the time of year.