Middle Lys Valley

Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow represent the main danger.

Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow represent the main danger.

The fresh snow and the sometimes deep wind slabs can be released by a single winter sport participant. Especially places where weaknesses exist in the old snowpack are unfavourable. This applies in particular on very steep shady slopes at the base of rock walls and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. Here the avalanches can be triggered in the weakly bonded old snow and reach medium size. The older wind slabs are covered with new snow in some cases and therefore difficult to recognise. Some mostly small natural avalanches are possible as a consequence of solar radiation, in particular on very steep sunny slopes, and in steep rocky terrain. Backcountry touring calls for meticulous route selection.

20 to 30 cm of snow, and up to 40 cm in some localities, has fallen since Saturday above approximately 2000 m. The sometimes moderate wind has transported some snow. On Saturday on very steep slopes small and, in isolated cases, medium-sized avalanches were observed. Faceted weak layers exist in the old snowpack in particular on shady slopes. In particular at intermediate and high altitudes snow depths vary greatly, depending on the infuence of the wind.

The weather will be clear. These weather conditions will facilitate a change towards better conditions.