Maira and Grana Valleys

The new snow and wind slabs remain for the foreseeable future prone to triggering above the tree line.

The new snow and wind slabs remain for the foreseeable future prone to triggering above the tree line.

The fresh snow of the last few days and the wind slabs formed by the easterly wind represent the main danger. Dry avalanches are possible, but they can be large in isolated cases. These can as before be released by a single winter sport participant. This applies especially on very steep slopes adjacent to ridgelines and in gullies and bowls. Dry avalanches can in some cases penetrate deep layers. As a consequence of warming during the day and the solar radiation, the likelihood of moist avalanches being released will increase a little in particular on rocky slopes.

Over a wide area 60 to 90 cm of snow fell in the last seven days. The fresh snow of the last few days as well as the wind slabs formed during the snowfall are poorly bonded with the old snowpack in particular on north to southwest to southeast facing aspects.

The weather conditions will foster a gradual strengthening of the snowpack. As a consequence of mild temperatures and low relative humidity the snow drift accumulations will stabilise at the weekend.