Border Pennine Alps

At intermediate and high altitudes and on very steep slopes the situation is very dangerous. Avalanches can occur in particular in starting zones where no previous releases have taken place.

At intermediate and high altitudes and on very steep slopes the situation is very dangerous. Avalanches can occur in particular in starting zones where no previous releases have taken place.

Over a wide area 100 to 160 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, has fallen since Friday above approximately 2000 m. As a consequence of warming during the day and solar radiation more dry and moist avalanches are possible, even large ones in isolated cases, especially on sunny slopes, as well as in steep rocky terrain. The avalanches can occur again, even in paths where avalanches have already been released. The large quantity of fresh snow and the large wind slabs can be released easily or naturally in all aspects and in all altitude zones. Ski touring and other off-piste activities, including snowshoe hiking, call for great caution and restraint. The avalanche danger will decrease during the day.

Monday: As a consequence of heavy snowfall and the moderate to strong wind, the snowpack could not consolidate during the last few days. The new snow is poorly bonded with the old snowpack in many places. As a consequence of snowfall and the occasionally strong southerly wind, the snow drift accumulations have increased in size at the weekend. The weather conditions will facilitate a stabilisation of the near-surface layers towards the evening in particular at low and intermediate altitudes.

The natural avalanche activity will gradually decrease.