Middle Lys Valley

Backcountry touring calls for extensive experience in the assessment of avalanche danger and careful route selection.

Backcountry touring calls for extensive experience in the assessment of avalanche danger and careful route selection.

In some localities 2 to 10 cm of snow, but less in some localities, will fall until the early morning. The new snow and wind slabs are lying on the unfavourable surface of an old snowpack in particular on steep shady slopes above the tree line. They can in many places be released by a single winter sport participant and reach medium size. Remotely triggered avalanches are possible. In starting zones where no previous releases have taken place and in steep rocky terrain more frequent medium-sized wet avalanches are to be expected as the day progresses as a consequence of warming during the day and solar radiation, especially in case of releases originating from sunny starting zones above the tree line. In the typical avalanche paths the avalanches can in isolated cases reach intermediate altitudes.

Over a wide area 50 to 70 cm of snow has fallen since Wednesday. The sometimes storm force wind has transported the new snow significantly. Towards its surface, the snowpack is unfavourably layered and its surface consists of loosely bonded snow lying on a crust that is strong in many cases. This applies in particular on shady slopes,. The snowpack will be generally subject to considerable local variations. Sunshine and high temperatures will give rise as the day progresses to rapid moistening of the snowpack in particular on sunny slopes.

The avalanche danger will not decrease for the time being.