Maira and Grana Valleys

The fresh snow and the wind slabs represent the main danger.

The fresh snow and the wind slabs represent the main danger.

The new snow and wind slabs are bonding poorly with the old snowpack above approximately 2500 m. The fresh wind slabs have formed in particular adjacent to ridgelines and in gullies and bowls and generally at high altitudes, caution is to be exercised at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack. In particular along the border with France the avalanche prone locations are a little more prevalent. Mostly the avalanches in these loacations are medium-sized. Apart from the danger of being buried, restraint should be exercised in view of the danger of avalanches sweeping people along and giving rise to falls.

In some localities 15 cm of snow will fall above approximately 1500 m. In some cases the various wind slabs have bonded poorly with each other and the old snowpack. In some places new snow and wind slabs are lying on a hard crust. The avalanche prone locations are sometimes covered with new snow and are therefore difficult to recognise. At higher altitudes snow depths vary greatly, depending on the infuence of the wind. Below approximately 2200 m only a little snow is now lying.