Haut Val de Bagnes

In the inneralpine regions a sometimes treacherous avalanche situation will prevail

In the inneralpine regions a sometimes treacherous avalanche situation will prevail

Faceted weak layers exist in the bottom section of the snowpack. Avalanches can in some places be released by a single winter sport participant and reach dangerously large size. The avalanche prone locations are barely recognisable, even to the trained eye. Defensive route selection is required, especially on very steep shady slopes. Small to medium-sized gliding avalanches are possible. This applies on sunny slopes below approximately 2400 m, and on shady slopes below approximately 2000 m.

In the lower part of the snowpack, particularly on west-facing, north-facing and east-facing slopes above approximately 2200 m, weak layers are evident. In the western part of Lower Valais and on the northern flank of the Alps, these ground-level layers are covered over by thick layers of fresher snow so that the likelihood of avalanches triggering from them by persons is low. From central Valais over the Ticino as far as Grisons, as well as generally in places where the snow is shallow, the snowpack layering is least favourable. In those places there have been isolated medium-to-large sized avalanches triggered by persons during the last few days. The activity of gliding avalanches is incrementally decreasing to some degree. From steep grass-covered slopes which have not yet discharged, however, further gliding avalanches are possible. In the regions of the west and the north where recent snowfall has been heaviest, these releases can be large-sized in places. As a result of daytime warming and solar radiation, the snowpack on steep south-facing slopes is superficially moist. During a night of clear skies on Friday, a melt-freeze crust is expected to form on the snowpack surface. On steep south-facing slopes this crust will be capable of bearing loads in the morning.

On Friday it was sunny in the mountains, following a night of clear skies. Fresh snow: - Temperature: - At midday at 2000 m, +6 °C; - the zero-degree level was at 2800 to 3200 m. Wind: - Winds at high altitudes were blowing at moderate to strong velocity from northeasterly directions; - in the Ticino, a moderate-strength northerly foehn wind was blowing. Following a night of clear skies it will be sunny in the mountains. Fresh snow: - Temperature: At midday at 2000 m, +8 °C in the western regions, +5 °C in the southern regions, and +3 °C in the eastern regions. Wind: - Winds at high altitudes will be blowing at moderate to strong velocity from northeasterly directions, slackening off somewhat during the course of the day; - on the southern flank of the Alps, moderate-strength northerly foehn wind will be blowing, particularly during the nighttime hours.

It will be rather sunny in the mountains on both days. The temperatures will incrementally decrease. The wind will be blowing predominantly at light to moderate strength. The danger of dry-snow avalanches is not expected to change significantly. Some gliding avalanches are ongoingly possible.