Pine' - Mocheni Valley

Wind slabs are to be evaluated with care and prudence.

Wind slabs are to be evaluated with care and prudence.

Avalanches can be released by a single winter sport participant. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack can indicate the danger, in particular on very steep shady slopes at elevated altitudes. Individual avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. Mostly avalanches are rather small. Apart from the danger of being buried, restraint should be exercised as well in view of the danger of avalanches sweeping people along and giving rise to falls.

As a consequence of a strong wind from northerly directions, wind slabs will form in particular in gullies and bowls and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. The fresh and older wind slabs are lying on soft layers in particular on steep northwest, north and east facing slopes. Individual weak layers exist deep in the old snowpack especially on shady slopes. The snowpack will be subject to considerable local variations over a wide area. In these regions only a little snow is lying.

During the night the weather will be partly cloudy. The weather conditions will prevent a stabilisation of the snowpack. Wind slabs require caution.