Middle Lys Valley

Since Monday hard wind slabs formed.

Since Monday hard wind slabs formed.

As a consequence of a moderate to strong wind from northwesterly directions, mostly small wind slabs formed. These can at their margins be released by a single winter sport participant. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack indicate the existence of a weak snowack on very steep slopes. Adjacent to ridgelines and in pass areas and in places that are protected from the wind the likelihood of avalanches is a little higher. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular in extremely steep terrain and at transitions into gullies and bowls. Transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack where weaknesses exist in the old snowpack are especially unfavourable. Avalanches can in isolated cases be released in near-ground layers and reach medium size. In extremely steep terrain more natural avalanches are possible, but they can reach medium size in isolated cases.

The northerly wind has transported the loosely bonded old snow. As a consequence of a moderate to strong wind from northeasterly directions, visible wind slabs formed by Thursday in particular adjacent to ridgelines and in gullies and bowls. The snowpack remains gradually subject to considerable local variations. Yesterday on steep sunny slopes individual small avalanches were reported. In particular at intermediate and high altitudes snow depths vary greatly, depending on the infuence of the wind. Faceted weak layers exist in the snowpack.

As the day progresses as a consequence of solar radiation there will be an increase in the danger of dry and moist avalanches within the current danger level. The wind will be moderate to strong. The snowpack remains in some cases prone to triggering.