Monregalese Valleys

The new snow and wind slabs of the last few days can be released easily at intermediate and high altitudes. Backcountry touring and other off-piste activities call for great restraint.

The new snow and wind slabs of the last few days can be released easily at intermediate and high altitudes. Backcountry touring and other off-piste activities call for great restraint.

The southwesterly wind has transported a lot of snow. In gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain the wind slabs have increased in size additionally. On wind-loaded slopes and in the regions exposed to precipitation large and, in isolated cases, very large avalanches are possible in starting zones where no previous releases have taken place. On steep shady slopes the avalanches can be released in deep layers of the snowpack. The new snow and wind slabs can be released easily, even by a single winter sport participant,. The avalanche prone locations are covered with new snow and are difficult to recognise. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack serve as an alarm sign. Remotely triggered avalanches are possible. Ski touring and other off-piste activities, including snowshoe hiking, call for experience and great restraint. Individual small and, in isolated cases, medium-sized moist loose snow avalanches are possible below approximately 1600 m.

Over a wide area over a wide area 50 to 90 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, has fallen since Monday above approximately 1600 m. Large quantities of fresh snow and the wind-drifted snow are lying on the unfavourable surface of an old snowpack in particular on shady slopes above approximately 2100 m. Artificially triggered avalanches and reports filed by observers confirm a very precarious avalanche situation also in areas not adjacent to ridgelines. Naturally triggered avalanches and whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack indicate a dangerous avalanche situation in particular on wind-loaded slopes. Faceted weak layers exist in the bottom section of the snowpack on shady slopes.

Down to 1300 m and below snow will fall on Saturday over a wide area. On Sunday it will be mostly sunny.