Maira and Grana Valleys

The more recent wind slabs represent the main danger. Backcountry touring is to be restricted to moderately steep terrain as far as possible.

The more recent wind slabs represent the main danger. Backcountry touring is to be restricted to moderately steep terrain as far as possible.

The large quantity of fresh snow of the weekend and in particular the wind slabs formed during the snowfall can be released easily, or, in isolated cases naturally at intermediate and high altitudes. As a consequence of the moderate to strong northwesterly wind, the snow drift accumulations will increase in size on Wednesday. Large and, in isolated cases, very large dry and wet avalanches have been released until Tuesday. The natural avalanche activity will appreciably decrease. Some medium-sized to large natural avalanches are, however, not entirely ruled out. At intermediate and high altitudes a dangerous avalanche situation will persist. Backcountry touring calls for careful route selection.

Over a wide area 50 to 80 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, fell on Sunday above approximately 2000 m. As a consequence of snowfall and the occasionally strong easterly wind, the snow drift accumulations have increased in size. Sunshine and high temperatures gave rise on Tuesday to increasing settling of the snowpack in particular at low and intermediate altitudes. Towards its surface, the snowpack is moist and its surface has a crust that is not capable of bearing a load.