Cervinia and Upper Valpelline Valley

Fresh wind slabs represent the main danger.

Fresh wind slabs represent the main danger.

The wind was strong. As a consequence of new snow and a strong wind from northerly directions, further wind slabs formed also in areas not adjacent to ridgelines. Along the border with France and along the border with Switzerland these avalanche prone locations are more prevalent. The wind slabs can be released, caution is to be exercised on very steep slopes at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack, when entering gullies and bowls for example. Whumpfing sounds serve as an alarm sign. The wind slabs are barely recognisable. Especially here the dry avalanches can be released in the various wind slab layers and reach medium size. Backcountry touring calls for meticulous route selection. As a consequence of warming and solar radiation, the natural avalanche activity will gradually increase, in particular on very steep sunny slopes. As the day progresses, moist snow slides are possible.

In some localities 10 to 20 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, fell in the past few hours above approximately 2000 m. Until Wednesday the wind will be strong. In some localities 5 to 20 cm of snow has fallen since Sunday above approximately 2000 m. The wind was strong to storm force over a wide area. Over a wide area snow depths vary greatly, depending on the infuence of the wind. High altitudes and the high Alpine regions: As you gain altitude, snow cover decreases and becomes uneven. Snow cover is often better at intermediate altitudes, where it's less affected by the wind. Towards its surface, the snowpack is hard and its surface has a crust that is strong in many cases, especially adjacent to ridgelines and in pass areas. In steep terrain there is a danger of falling on the hard crust. Towards its surface, the snowpack is soft and has a loosely bonded surface, in particular in places that are protected from the wind. The solar radiation gave rise to settling of the snowpack. Weak layers exist in the snowpack in particular on steep shady slopes.

The weather conditions will facilitate a strengthening of the snow drift accumulations. The avalanche prone locations are to be found on wind-loaded slopes at elevated altitudes.