Valgrisenche

The current avalanche situation calls for great caution and restraint.

The current avalanche situation calls for great caution and restraint.

The new snow and wind slabs of the last three days are poorly bonded with the old snowpack in many places. The sometimes large wind slabs can be released easily by a single winter sport participant in all aspects above approximately 2000 m. Remotely triggered avalanches are probable. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack are a clear indication. In particular on wind-loaded slopes medium-sized avalanches are possible. In some places the avalanches can be released in the weakly bonded old snow and reach large size in isolated cases.

40 to 70 cm of snow has fallen since Thursday above approximately 1800 m. In the last two days several medium-sized and, in isolated cases, large avalanches were reported. The northwesterly wind has transported the new snow significantly. The fresh wind slabs are lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack especially on east to north to northwest facing aspects above approximately 2200 m. In particular at higher altitudes snow depths vary greatly, depending on the infuence of the wind. On the windward slopes, ridges, hills and crests are heavily eroded.

The avalanche activity will slowly decrease.