Middle Lys Valley

Increase in danger of dry avalanches as a consequence of the strong wind.

Increase in danger of dry avalanches as a consequence of the strong wind.

The wind slabs have formed adjacent to ridgelines and in gullies and bowls and generally at elevated altitudes. Over a wide area they will increase in size additionally as the day progresses. The wind slabs are to be evaluated with care and prudence in particular in very steep terrain. Weak layers in the old snowpack can still be released in isolated cases by individual winter sport participants. This applies in particular on very steep northwest, north and northeast facing slopes above approximately 2300 m in little used backcountry terrain. In particular on steep sunny slopes and at the base of rock walls medium-sized moist and wet avalanches are to be expected as a consequence of warming during the day and solar radiation, especially below steep, high-altitude, sunny starting zones that have retained the snow thus far. In some places avalanches can release the wet snowpack.

As a consequence of the occasionally strong foehn wind, fresh snow drift accumulations formed on Saturday. As a consequence of highly fluctuating temperatures a crust formed on the surface during the last few days, this also applies on shady slopes below approximately 2200 m. The spring-like weather conditions will give rise to increasing moistening of the snowpack in particular on sunny slopes below approximately 2700 m, also on shady slopes below approximately 2100 m.

The wind will be strong in the vicinity of peaks. The danger of dry slab avalanches will already exist in the early morning. Moist and wet avalanches are still likely to occur during the day.