Northern Lepontine Alps

Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow require caution. The danger of dry and moist avalanches will increase a little during the day.

Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow require caution. The danger of dry and moist avalanches will increase a little during the day.

By Tuesday wind slabs formed adjacent to ridgelines and in gullies and bowls. These can as before be released by people and reach medium size. This applies especially at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack, as well as at transitions into gullies and bowls. The avalanches can be released in the faceted old snow and reach large size in isolated cases. Caution is to be exercised on very steep slopes. Gradual increase in danger of dry and moist avalanches as a consequence of warming during the day and solar radiation. Below approximately 2800 m small and medium-sized moist snow slides and avalanches are possible, in particular on rocky sunny slopes, as well as at the base of rock walls.

The wind slabs are bonding only slowly with the old snowpack in particular on shady slopes above the tree line. Towards its base, the snowpack is faceted and weak. In all aspects snow depths vary greatly at high altitudes and in high Alpine regions, depending on the infuence of the wind. At low altitude from a snow sport perspective, in most cases insufficient snow is lying.

The weather conditions will facilitate a slow strengthening of the snow drift accumulations.