Cervinia and Upper Valpelline Valley

Wind slabs represent the main danger, especially in high Alpine regions, along the border with France and along the border with Switzerland.

Wind slabs represent the main danger, especially in high Alpine regions, along the border with France and along the border with Switzerland.

The visible wind slabs of the last few days remain for the foreseeable future prone to triggering at intermediate and high altitudes. They are to be avoided, caution is to be exercised in particular adjacent to ridgelines and in gullies and bowls on steep slopes. In high Alpine regions these avalanche prone locations are more prevalent and exist in all aspects. Avalanches can be released in near-surface layers, even by a single winter sport participant. The weather conditions will cause a gradual rise in the danger of moist and wet avalanches as the day progresses on very steep sunny slopes, in the event of solar radiation in particular at intermediate altitudes.

In some localities up to 25 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, has fallen since Friday above approximately 2500 m, in particular along the border with France and along the border with Switzerland. At high altitudes and in high Alpine regions snow depths vary greatly, depending on the infuence of the wind. In some cases the various wind slabs have bonded still only poorly with the old snowpack, in particular at high altitude. The wind slabs are covered with new snow in some cases and therefore difficult to recognise. Sunshine and high temperatures will give rise as the day progresses to gradual moistening of the snowpack below approximately 2800 m. Individual weak layers exist in the snowpack in shady places that are protected from the wind, especially above approximately 2400 m.

The avalanche danger will persist.