Bollettino valanghe

Avoid fresh/older snowdrifts! Daytime increase in wet-snow avalanches.

Avoid fresh/older snowdrifts! Daytime increase in wet-snow avalanches.

Overall quite favorable springtime conditions prevail, avalanche danger is low. Where the foehn was blowing, particularly in the last two nights, fresh, mostly small snowdrift accumulations were generated, deposited on shady slopes, and are prone to triggering. Avalanche prone locations occur on shady, steep ridgeline and pass slopes and behind protruberances, and in transitions from shallow to deep snow above 2000 m. The risks of being swept along and forced to take a fall require consideration. Due to daytime warmth and solar radiation, glide-snow avalanches are possible, especially below 2000 m on steep sunny slopes.

Due to strong-velocity southerly foehn winds, small fresh snowdrift accumulations have been generated, especially in the classic foehn zones in the southern regions, these avalanche prone locations are more frequent. Bonding of drifts to the old snowpack is poor on shady slopes, they are prone to triggering (the upper part of the snowpack there is soft, faceted crystals blanket the surface). On sunny slopes a crust capable of bearing loads is evident, but this softens up during the daytime due to solar radiation and higher temperatures, which in turn enhances the gliding movement of the snowpack over very steep grass-covered slopes.

The fine weather persists: sunshine, little cloud, no foehn this morning. This evening, clouds will move in from the southwest. Still mild. At 2000 m: -2 to +3 degrees. Light to moderate SW wind.

Heavy layered clouds on Tuesday will make light diffuse, the sand/dust blown from the Sahara will also impede visibility. Westerly winds will be moderate to brisk. The avalanche situation is not expected to change significantly.