Middle Lys Valley

Slab avalanches are the main danger. Moist and wet avalanches are possible from the middle of the day.

Slab avalanches are the main danger. Moist and wet avalanches are possible from the middle of the day.

Caution is to be exercised on very steep slopes, and in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. Avalanches can be released, even by a single winter sport participant. Weak layers in the old snowpack necessitate caution. In some places the avalanches can be triggered in the old snow and reach quite a large size. Remotely triggered avalanches are possible. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack serve as an alarm sign. As a consequence of the strong northerly foehn wind, fresh snow drift accumulations will form. High-altitude starting zones will be replenished as a consequence of the wind. Here small and medium-sized natural dry avalanches are possible. In the typical avalanche paths the avalanches can as before reach fairly large size. As a consequence of warming during the day and solar radiation moist and wet avalanches are possible as the day progresses, even medium-sized ones.

Over a wide area 20 to 50 cm of snow has fallen since Sunday above approximately 1600 m. Until Saturday the wind will be strong. Adjacent to ridgelines and in pass areas snow depths vary greatly, depending on the infuence of the wind. The snowpack is unfavourably layered. Faceted weak layers exist in the old snowpack in particular on west, north and east facing slopes. Some medium-sized to large natural dry avalanches have been released until Thursday.

The danger of moist and wet avalanches will already increase in the late morning.