Avalanche forecast

Border Pennine Alps

Arpa Piemonte
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Avalanche danger

Above 2,200 m
3 · Considerable
Below 2,200 m
2 · Moderate
Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

The sometimes strong wind will transport the new snow and, in some cases, old snow as well. In some regions increase in danger of dry avalanches as a consequence of the sometimes strong southwesterly wind.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind slab

    • Above 2,200 m
    Size
    3

    Stability: poor · Frequency: some

  • Persistent weak layers

    • Treeline–2,700 m
    Size
    3

    Stability: poor · Frequency: few

Avalanche Activity

The sometimes strong wind will transport the new snow and, in some cases, old snow as well. In some regions increase in danger of dry avalanches as a consequence of the sometimes strong southwesterly wind.

The sometimes new snow-covered wind slabs must be evaluated with care and prudence. Dry avalanches can especially at their margins be released, even by small loads in isolated cases and reach medium size, caution is to be exercised in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain, as well as adjacent to ridgelines and in pass areas above approximately 2200 m. Avalanches can penetrate deep layers and reach quite a large size. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack serve as an alarm indicating the danger. The current avalanche situation calls for meticulous route selection.

Snowpack Structure

In some localities 10 to 20 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, has fallen above approximately 1600 m. As a consequence of the sometimes strong wind the wind slabs will increase in size once again. Faceted weak layers exist deeper in the old snowpack in particular on shady slopes.

Tendency

The fresh snow as well as the mostly small wind slabs that are forming during the snowfall will be deposited on soft layers in all aspects above approximately 1500 m. In some regions increase in danger of dry avalanches as a consequence of new snow and wind.

Bulletin data: Arpa Piemonte (via EAWS / avalanche.report)

Regions covered