Maira and Grana Valleys

Increase in danger of dry and moist avalanches as a consequence of warming.

Increase in danger of dry and moist avalanches as a consequence of warming.

A clear night will be followed in the early morning by favourable conditions generally. As a consequence of warming during the day and the solar radiation, the likelihood of avalanches being released will increase gradually. The avalanche prone locations for wet avalanches are to be found at the base of rock walls and on steep slopes. Medium-sized and, in isolated cases, large natural avalanches are possible also in starting zones where no previous releases have taken place. The small wind slabs of the weekend can be released in isolated cases in particular on northwest to north to northeast facing aspects above approximately 2800 m. Backcountry tours should be concluded early. The Avalanche Warning Service currently has only a small amount of information that has been collected in the high Alpine regions, so that the avalanche danger should be investigated especially thoroughly in the relevant locality.

The new snow has settled to a large extent. Outgoing longwave radiation during the night will be quite good. The surface of the snowpack will freeze to form a strong crust and will soften quickly. Sunshine and high temperatures will give rise as the day progresses to significant moistening of the snowpack. This situation will give rise to a loss of strength within the snowpack.