Upper Susa and Chisone Valleys

Wind slabs represent the main danger.

Wind slabs represent the main danger.

The fresh snow of the weekend and the wind slabs formed by the sometimes strong wind represent the main danger. They are to be found especially in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. In some cases the wind slabs have bonded still only poorly. The fresh wind slabs can as before be released by a single winter sport participant. In particular on wind-loaded slopes the avalanches can be triggered in deep layers of the snowpack and reach large size in some cases.

The cold fresh snow of the weekend and the sometimes deep wind slabs are poorly bonded with the old snowpack. Faceted weak layers exist in the snowpack in particular on shady slopes. As a consequence of falling temperatures, the natural avalanche activity will slowly decrease. The meteorological conditions will facilitate a slow strengthening of the near-surface layers.

As a consequence of snowfall above approximately 2200 m and the strong to storm force wind, the snowpack can not consolidate.