Pontey-Clavalité

The danger of moist and wet avalanches will already exist in the early morning.

The danger of moist and wet avalanches will already exist in the early morning.

Less snow than expected fell on Monday. 15 to 20 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, has fallen above approximately 2200 m. This applies in particular in the regions neighbouring those that are subject to danger level 3 (considerable). In the late morning the natural activity of moist and wet avalanches will rapidly increase. At low and intermediate altitudes and on very steep slopes small and, in isolated cases, medium-sized moist snow slides and avalanches are to be expected. In some places moist and wet avalanches can be released in deep layers reach medium size in particular on very steep northeast, north and northwest facing slopes. The conditions are sometimes unfavourable for backcountry touring and other off-piste activities.

The surface of the snowpack will freeze very little. The snowpack will be wet all the way through at low and intermediate altitudes. In the last seven days the natural activity of medium wet and gliding avalanches has gradually increased. At higher altitudes, snow cover becomes thinner and patchy; it is better at mid-altitudes, which are less exposed to the wind. Below approximately 1800 m hardly any snow is lying. The surface snowpack changes rapidly depending on the aspect and gradient: crusts of various types and thicknesses alternate. Weak layers exist in the snowpack in particular on steep shady slopes.

As a consequence of warming during the day and solar radiation more moist and wet avalanches are possible.