Pontey-Clavalité

Wind slabs and wet snow represent the main danger.

Over a wide area 20 to 40 cm of snow has fallen since Wednesday above approximately 2500 m. Up to 2300 m rain fell on Wednesday. The northwesterly wind has transported the new snow. Friday: Evening: Along the border with Switzerland 5 to 15 cm of snow will fall. Numerous medium-sized loose snow avalanches have been released. Isolated small and medium-sized slab avalanches have been released. This applies on very steep slopes at elevated altitudes, and adjacent to ridgelines. The weather conditions gave rise to moistening of the snowpack also at intermediate and high altitudes. The wind slabs have bonded generally well. The old snowpack is well consolidated. Below approximately 2100 m hardly any snow is lying.

The avalanche danger will decrease.

Wind slabs and wet snow represent the main danger.

As a consequence of solar radiation more moist loose snow avalanches are possible, even medium-sized ones, especially on very steep slopes, and at the base of rock walls. As the moisture increases more wet avalanches are possible. As a consequence of a sometimes moderate wind from westerly directions, sometimes deep wind slabs formed especially at elevated altitudes. Several small and medium-sized slab avalanches are possible especially on very steep slopes. The fresh snow and the wind slabs can be released by a single winter sport participant in some cases above approximately 2500 m, in particular adjacent to ridgelines and in gullies and bowls. The wind slabs will be covered with new snow in some cases and therefore difficult to recognise. In particular at elevated altitudes the prevalence and size of the avalanche prone locations will increase.