Rhemes Valley

The wind slabs represent the main danger.

The wind slabs represent the main danger.

The large surface-area wind slabs of last week remain in some cases prone to triggering above approximately 2200 m. These are covered with new snow and therefore difficult to recognise. They can be released by a single winter sport participant in some cases. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular on very steep slopes and at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack. As a consequence of new snow and a light to moderate wind from northwesterly directions, mostly small wind slabs will form in particular adjacent to ridgelines and in pass areas as well as at high altitude. Fresh wind slabs are in many cases small but to be assessed with care and prudence. As a consequence of solar radiation only isolated avalanches are possible. Especially in steep rocky terrain and on sunny slopes small and, in isolated cases, medium-sized dry and moist avalanches are possible.

10 to 15 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, has fallen since Monday above approximately 2000 m. Over a wide area new snow and wind slabs are lying on a hard crust. In some cases the wind slabs have bonded poorly. The old snowpack is hard. Snow depths vary greatly at high altitude, depending on the infuence of the wind.

The avalanche danger will increase during the day. As a consequence of a moderate to strong northwesterly wind, soft wind slabs will form in the course of the day.