Border Pennine Alps

The current avalanche situation calls for defensive route selection.

The current avalanche situation calls for defensive route selection.

The wind slabs can be released easily. or in isolated cases naturally, in all aspects above approximately 2200 m. Fresh and older wind slabs are to be critically assessed. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack indicate an unfavourable avalanche situation. Caution is to be exercised in particular in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. Medium-sized and, in isolated cases, large dry slab avalanches are possible on wind-loaded slopes. Slight increase in danger of dry and moist avalanches as a consequence of warming, in particular on rocky sunny slopes.

In particular along the border between Valais and Italy 30 to 60 cm of snow fell in the last few days above approximately 1800 m. The new snow of last week is lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack in particular on steep shady slopes above approximately 2000 m. Towards its base, the snowpack is faceted and weak. The sometimes storm force wind has transported a lot of snow. Snow depths vary greatly, 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.