Maira and Grana Valleys

Wind slabs represent the main danger. As a consequence of new snow and wind the avalanche prone locations will become more prevalent towards the evening.

Wind slabs represent the main danger. As a consequence of new snow and wind the avalanche prone locations will become more prevalent towards the evening.

During the night soft wind slabs formed especially adjacent to ridgelines and in gullies and bowls as well as at high altitude. As a consequence of new snow and strong wind they will increase in size as the day progresses. These can sometimes be released by a single winter sport participant and reach medium size, especially on wind-loaded slopes. Such avalanche prone locations are sometimes covered with new snow and are barely recognisable because of the poor visibility. Even a small avalanche can sweep people along and give rise to falls. As a consequence of new snow and wind dry avalanches are possible by the evening, even medium-sized ones.

In some regions up to 20 cm of snow, and up to 40 cm in some localities, will fall. The sometimes strong wind will transport the new snow significantly. In some cases the wind slabs have bonded poorly with each other and the old snowpack. As a consequence of falling temperatures and snowfall and the occasionally strong wind, fresh snow drift accumulations will form. The old snowpack is well consolidated and its surface consists of loosely bonded snow lying on a resilient melt-freeze crust. Above approximately 2100 m a lot of snow is lying.