Rhemes Valley

For those venturing off piste an unfavourable avalanche situation will be encountered in some localities. Increase in danger of moist avalanches as a consequence of warming during the day and solar radiation.

For those venturing off piste an unfavourable avalanche situation will be encountered in some localities. Increase in danger of moist avalanches as a consequence of warming during the day and solar radiation.

The large quantity of fresh snow of Tuesday and very particularly the wind slabs can still be released in some cases, in particular at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack, when entering gullies and bowls for example in particular at intermediate and high altitudes, and on very steep slopes above approximately 2300 m. On very steep sunny slopes the likelihood of avalanches will increase during the day. In isolated cases the avalanches can be triggered in the weakly bonded old snow and reach quite a large size. Whumpfing sounds serve as an alarm indicating the danger. On extremely steep sunny slopes more frequent small and medium-sized moist avalanches are to be expected as the day progresses. Gliding avalanches can also occur at any time, in particular on extremely steep grassy slopes below approximately 2600 m.

40 to 80 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, fell in the last seven days. The sometimes strong wind has transported some snow. Several small and medium-sized slab avalanches have been released by people in the last few days. The various wind slabs have bonded with the old snowpack. As a consequence of highly fluctuating temperatures and solar radiation a crust formed on the surface, in particular below approximately 2300 m on very steep sunny slopes. In all aspects snow depths vary greatly above approximately 2400 m, depending on the infuence of the wind. Adjacent to ridgelines and in pass areas and at high altitude a little snow is lying.

As the day progresses as a consequence of warming during the day and solar radiation there will be a gradual increase in the danger of moist snow slides. As a consequence of highly fluctuating temperatures the snow drift accumulations will stabilise.