Valsavaranche

The unusual weather conditions gave rise to settling of the snowpack.

The unusual weather conditions gave rise to settling of the snowpack.

As the temperature drops hardly any moist and wet avalanches are to be expected. The clearly visible wind slabs of last week can be released by a single winter sport participant in some cases in particular on very steep north, east and southeast facing slopes, in particular adjacent to ridgelines at high altitude, as well as at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack, when entering gullies and bowls for example above approximately 2600 m, caution is to be exercised in particular on very steep slopes.

As a consequence of rising temperatures and partly cloudy skies the snowpack settled during the last two days. These spring-like weather conditions gave rise to rapid moistening of the snowpack below approximately 2700 m. As a consequence of falling temperatures the snowpack consolidated during the last few days. Faceted weak layers exist in the bottom section of the snowpack at intermediate and high altitudes. In all aspects below approximately 2500 m less snow than usual is lying. Below approximately 2000 m only a little snow is lying. In high Alpine regions snow depths vary greatly, depending on the infuence of the wind.