Champdepraz Monte Avic

New snow and wind slabs require caution. Backcountry touring and other off-piste activities call for restraint.

New snow and wind slabs require caution. Backcountry touring and other off-piste activities call for restraint.

Above approximately 1400 m snow will fall until Monday. The new snow and wind slabs are lying on the unfavourable surface of an old snowpack. Above approximately 2300 m small and medium-sized natural avalanches are possible. These can be released in deeper layers in particular on very steep shady slopes. As a consequence of warming during the day and solar radiation small and medium-sized natural wet avalanches are possible below approximately 2800 m. The more recent wind slabs can be released even by a single winter sport participant. Weak layers in the upper part of the snowpack can be released in all aspects. Such avalanche prone locations are covered with new snow and are barely recognisable, even to the trained eye. Sometimes the avalanches in these loacations are very deep. They can be released in the various layers of new snow.

10 to 20 cm of snow fell during the night above approximately 1800 m. 5 to 15 cm of snow will fall until Monday above approximately 1800 m. 5 to 10 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, fell on Saturday above approximately 1800 m. The more recent wind slabs have formed in particular adjacent to ridgelines and in pass areas. Towards its surface, the snowpack is unfavourably layered and its surface consists of loosely bonded snow lying on a melt-freeze crust that is not capable of bearing a load. Sunshine and high temperatures gave rise to moistening of the snowpack in particular on sunny slopes below approximately 2700 m. As a consequence of highly fluctuating temperatures a crust formed on the surface during the last few days, this also applies on shady slopes below approximately 2000 m. In particular at intermediate altitudes less snow than usual is lying. On sunny slopes below approximately 2300 m hardly any snow is lying.

As the day progresses as a consequence of warming during the day and solar radiation there will be only a slight increase in the danger of moist and wet avalanches.