Southern Lepontine Alps

The wind slabs of the weekend remain for the foreseeable future prone to triggering at elevated altitudes. New snow and wind slabs represent the main danger.

The wind slabs of the weekend remain for the foreseeable future prone to triggering at elevated altitudes. New snow and wind slabs represent the main danger.

Wind slabs are to be found in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain, caution is to be exercised in particular in the vicinity of peaks. They can be released, even by a single winter sport participant and reach medium size. Avalanches can in isolated cases be triggered in the old snowpack and reach large size in isolated cases in the regions exposed to heavier precipitation. The wind slabs of the last few days are to be avoided in particular in steep terrain. Maintaining distances between individuals and one-at-a-time descents are recommended.

Monday: Some snow has fallen. In the vicinity of peaks the previously small wind slabs have increased in size in the last few days. These are lying on the unfavourable surface of an old snowpack in particular on shady slopes. Intermediate and high altitudes: Large-grained weak layers exist in the snowpack on steep shady slopes. The snowpack remains soft in particular in shady places that are protected from the wind.

The avalanche danger will persist.