La Thuile Valley

Fresh wind slabs require caution.

Fresh wind slabs require caution.

The strong wind has transported the fresh and old snow significantly. Over a wide area large wind slabs formed. They are deep and in some cases prone to triggering. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in steep terrain above the tree line and on east and south facing slopes below approximately 2400 m, in particular at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack. The conditions are precarious for snow sport activities outside marked and open pistes. Wind slabs can be released, even by a single winter sport participant and reach medium size. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack can indicate the danger. Only isolated natural avalanches are possible. In very isolated cases avalanches can also be released in near-ground layers reach quite a large size in particular on steep north, east and southeast facing slopes.

0 to 5 cm of snow will fall on Friday above approximately 1800 m. The strong wind has transported the fresh and old snow significantly. As a consequence of snowfall the moderate to strong northwesterly wind, snow drift accumulations formed during the last three days. These are poorly bonded with the old snowpack in particular on east, southeast and south facing slopes below approximately 2400 m. 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.

The avalanche danger will persist. The wind will be moderate to strong. Above approximately 1200 m snow will fall.