Rhemes Valley

Wind slabs represent the main danger. Backcountry touring calls for careful route selection.

Wind slabs represent the main danger. Backcountry touring calls for careful route selection.

As a consequence of new snow and a strong wind from westerly directions, avalanche prone wind slabs will form in the course of the day. In the course of the day they will increase in size once again. The new snow and wind slabs can be released by a single winter sport participant. The avalanche prone locations are to be found on steep slopes and on wind-loaded slopes, caution is to be exercised in particular along the border with France. On very steep slopes and on sunny slopes medium-sized and, in isolated cases, large dry and moist avalanches are possible, in the event of prolonged bright spells in particular. Persistent weak layers. These avalanche prone locations are rare and are barely recognisable, even to the trained eye, caution is to be exercised in particular at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack, when entering gullies and bowls for example between approximately 2700 and 3000 m, and in little used backcountry terrain. Whumpfing sounds are a clear indication.

10 to 30 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, fell during the night above approximately 1500 m. The northwesterly wind has transported the new snow significantly. 20 to 40 cm of snow will fall until Wednesday above approximately 1500 m. The westerly wind will transport the new snow. The unusual weather conditions on Sunday gave rise to moistening of the snowpack below approximately 2500 m. As a consequence of falling temperatures a crust formed on the surface. Weak layers in the old snowpack necessitate caution. The number of places where avalanches can be triggered has clearly decreased, but not the size of avalanches. The snowpack will be generally subject to considerable local variations. In all aspects snow depths vary greatly above approximately 2000 m, depending on the infuence of the wind.

As a consequence of new snow and wind the prevalence of the avalanche prone locations will increase. The avalanche danger will not decrease for the time being.