Rhemes Valley

Fresh wind slabs represent the main danger. The more recent wind slabs of Thursday will be covered with new snow and therefore difficult to recognise.

Fresh wind slabs represent the main danger. The more recent wind slabs of Thursday will be covered with new snow and therefore difficult to recognise.

As a consequence of snowfall and the moderate to strong westerly wind, fresh snow drift accumulations formed on Thursday. The new snow and wind slabs of last week are lying on the unfavourable surface of an old snowpack in particular on shady slopes. They remain for the foreseeable future prone to triggering. In particular above approximately 2300 m the avalanche prone locations are more prevalent. As a consequence of the snowfall, the likelihood of avalanches being released will increase on steep slopes. The avalanches can be released by a single winter sport participant, in particular at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack, when entering gullies and bowls for example. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack and artificially triggered avalanches confirm an unfavourable avalanche situation on very steep shady slopes. Backcountry touring and other off-piste activities call for meticulous route selection.

25 to 40 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, fell in the last five days above approximately 2000 m. 10 to 20 cm of snow will fall until Sunday above approximately 1600 m. The high humditiy gave rise to moistening of the old snowpack in all aspects below approximately 2400 m. The surface of the snowpack has frozen to form a strong crust. The new snow and wind slabs are lying on a crust on steep sunny slopes. In shady places that are protected from the wind above approximately 2500 m: The new snow is lying on soft layers. In all aspects less snow than usual is lying. On sunny slopes below approximately 2400 m hardly any snow is lying.

The avalanche danger will persist.