Valgrisenche

There is a danger of falling on the hard crust. Fresh wind slabs require caution.

There is a danger of falling on the hard crust. Fresh wind slabs require caution.

In the last few days wind slabs formed in gullies and bowls and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. As a consequence of the northeasterly wind they will increase in size additionally in the afternoon. These can be released, even by a single winter sport participant, especially on very steep slopes. Caution is to be exercised in high Alpine regions along the border with France and along the border with Switzerland. In these regions the avalanche prone locations are more prevalent. Here only isolated loose snow avalanches are possible, but they can reach medium size in isolated cases, in particular on extremely steep slopes.

Monday: In some localities 2 to 5 cm of snow has fallen thus far, in particular along the border with France and along the border with Switzerland. As a consequence of the moderate wind the prevalence and size of the avalanche prone locations will increase on Tuesday. The old snowpack is well consolidated and its surface consists of loosely bonded snow lying on a strong melt-freeze crust. The moderate wind will transport the new snow. In some cases the wind slabs have bonded poorly with the old snowpack. In particular at intermediate and high altitudes there is still a very large amount of snow above approximately 2200 m.

As a consequence of a sometimes strong wind from northerly directions, wind slabs will form on Wednesday. The snowpack remains prone to triggering in some places.