Valsavaranche

Fresh wind slabs require caution.

Fresh wind slabs require caution.

As a consequence of new snow and a sometimes strong wind from westerly directions, wind slabs will form during the night at intermediate and high altitudes. In the course of the day they will increase in size moderately. The fresh wind slabs can be released by a single winter sport participant. These avalanche prone locations are to be found in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain and on extremely steep slopes. Individual mostly small dry avalanches are possible above approximately 2500 m, in particular in extremely steep terrain. Persistent weak layers. These avalanche prone locations are rare and are barely recognisable, even to the trained eye, caution is to be exercised in particular at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack, when entering gullies and bowls for example between approximately 2700 and 3000 m, and in little used backcountry terrain. Whumpfing sounds are a clear indication.

5 to 15 cm of snow will fall until Wednesday above approximately 2000 m. The sometimes strong wind will transport the new snow. In all aspects snow depths vary greatly above approximately 2000 m, depending on the infuence of the wind. At low and intermediate altitudes from a snow sport perspective, in most cases insufficient snow is lying. The unusual weather conditions on Sunday gave rise to moistening of the snowpack below approximately 2500 m. As a consequence of falling temperatures a crust formed on the surface. Weak layers in the old snowpack necessitate caution. The number of places where avalanches can be triggered has clearly decreased, but not the size of avalanches.

Wind and new snow: The avalanche danger will persist.