Cervinia and Upper Valpelline Valley

In very isolated cases weak layers exist in the snowpack on very steep shady slopes.

In very isolated cases weak layers exist in the snowpack on very steep shady slopes.

As a consequence of a sometimes moderate northwesterly wind, mostly small wind slabs formed on Wednesday adjacent to ridgelines and in pass areas, in particular in high Alpine regions along the border with Switzerland. These can sometimes be released by a single winter sport participant. In isolated cases avalanches can be released in deep layers and reach medium size. This applies in particular on very steep northwest, north and northeast facing slopes above approximately 2300 m in little used backcountry terrain. Artificially triggered avalanches confirm this situation. Such avalanche prone locations are barely recognisable, even to the trained eye. As a consequence of warming during the day and solar radiation small and medium-sized natural wet avalanches are to be expected. This applies especially on steep south, southeast and west facing slopes below approximately 2800 m, as well as on shady slopes below approximately 2500 m. In some places wet avalanches can release the wet snowpack, in particular on extremely steep sunny slopes below approximately 2300 m.

A clear night will be followed in the early morning by favourable conditions, but the danger of wet avalanches will increase later. As a consequence of mild temperatures and solar radiation the snowpack consolidated during the last few days. Sunshine and high temperatures gave rise to moistening of the snowpack in particular on sunny slopes below approximately 2700 m. 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. In particular at intermediate altitudes less snow than usual is lying. On sunny slopes below approximately 2100 m hardly any snow is lying.

As the temperature drops there will be a decrease in the danger of moist and wet avalanches. Increase in danger of dry avalanches as a consequence of the moderate to strong northwesterly wind, in particular in high Alpine regions.