Pontey-Clavalité

The danger of moist and wet avalanches will already exist in the early morning.

The danger of moist and wet avalanches will already exist in the early morning.

As a consequence of high temperatures, very cloudy skies and the foehn wind, an unfavourable avalanche situation will develop. These meteorological conditions will bring about a substantial rise in the danger of moist and wet avalanches in particular in the regions with a lot of snow, caution is to be exercised in particular below, west, north and east facing starting zones at intermediate and high altitudes that have retained the snow thus far. As the moisture increases a large number of natural wet avalanches are to be expected, in particular medium-sized ones. As a consequence of the strong northwesterly wind, snow drift accumulations formed during the last few days. They are mostly rather small but to be assessed with care and prudence. The wind slabs are to be found adjacent to ridgelines and in gullies and bowls. In particular at high altitude the avalanche prone locations are more prevalent. Wind slabs can be released by a single winter sport participant in isolated cases.

At high altitudes and in high Alpine regions snow depths vary greatly, depending on the infuence of the wind. The spring-like weather conditions will give rise to rapid moistening of the snowpack over a wide area. These conditions will foster a gradual settling of the near-surface layers in particular below approximately 2900 m. Individual weak layers exist in the snowpack in shady places that are protected from the wind, especially above approximately 2400 m.

The danger of moist and wet avalanches will not decrease for the time being.