Middle Lys Valley

As a consequence of the strong wind the prevalence and size of the avalanche prone locations will increase. The wind slabs must be evaluated with care and prudence.

As a consequence of the strong wind the prevalence and size of the avalanche prone locations will increase. The wind slabs must be evaluated with care and prudence.

As a consequence of a strong wind from westerly directions, further wind slabs formed on Friday in gullies and bowls and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. On Saturday the wind slabs will increase in size. These are easy to recognise but in some cases prone to triggering. They can be released easily in some places in all aspects above the tree line. Mostly avalanches are medium-sized. On steep, little used shady slopes the avalanches can penetrate even deep layers and reach large size in isolated cases. Wind-loaded slopes where weaknesses exist in the old snowpack are especially unfavourable. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack are a clear indication of a weakly bonded snowpack.

Some small and medium-sized dry slab avalanches have been released by people last week. The new snow and wind slabs of last week are lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack in particular on shady slopes. Large-grained weak layers exist in the old snowpack here. Above the tree line snow depths vary greatly, depending on the infuence of the wind. The new windloads are soft and increasingly compact as they rise in altitude.

As a consequence of low temperatures the snowpack can not consolidate during the next few days.