Rhemes Valley

Fresh wind slabs are to be evaluated with care and prudence.

Fresh wind slabs are to be evaluated with care and prudence.

As a consequence of snowfall and the moderate to strong westerly wind, fresh snow drift accumulations formed on Thursday. The fresh snow and in particular the many wind slabs remain for the foreseeable future prone to triggering in particular on very steep northwest, north and northeast facing slopes. In particular above approximately 2300 m the avalanche prone locations are more prevalent. The soft wind slabs are to be assessed with care and prudence. They can be released by a single winter sport participant, in particular at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack, when entering gullies and bowls for example. The avalanche prone locations are sometimes covered with new snow and are therefore difficult to recognise. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack and released avalanches confirm a sometimes treacherous avalanche situation on very steep shady slopes. Backcountry touring and other off-piste activities call for meticulous route selection. Several medium-sized dry and moist avalanches are possible as the day progresses, in the event of prolonged bright spells in particular, caution is to be exercised on extremely steep slopes, as well as in steep rocky terrain. Gliding avalanches are still possible in isolated cases. Areas with glide cracks are to be avoided as far as possible.

25 to 40 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, fell in the last four days above approximately 2000 m. 5 to 10 cm of snow will fall until Friday above approximately 1800 m. The high humditiy gave rise to moistening of the old snowpack in all aspects below approximately 2400 m. The new snow and wind slabs are lying on a crust on steep sunny slopes. In shady places that are protected from the wind above approximately 2500 m: Towards its surface, the snowpack is dry and has a loosely bonded surface. The new snow and wind slabs are lying on the unfavourable surface of an old snowpack on steep shady slopes above approximately 2500 m. In all aspects less snow than usual is lying. On sunny slopes below approximately 2400 m hardly any snow is lying.

Some snow will fall. The avalanche danger will persist.