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new/recent accumulations and new snow in the afternoon with strong wind from SW-W-NW
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Sunday 2/10/2019
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The avalanche danger is 3-considerable increasing to 4- strong mainly for ski mountaineering and freeride activities from the Valley of Rhêmes to the Gran S. Bernardo, 2-moderate upward to 3-considerable in Valsavarenche, Rhêmes, Valpelline passing from Valtournenche to Ayas and Gressoney and 2-moderate elsewhere.
The avalanche problems are "wind drifted snow" and "new snow".
We have different situations depending on the areas with an increase in the degree of danger from the afternoon due to the new snow accompanied by strong wind from the western sides.
Triggered avalanches:
- new and recent accumulations, bigger and thicker in the N-NO of the Region, close to ridges and hills, near slope changes and in the basins above 2200 m. A hiker/skier can trigger hard slabs, especially on very steep south and east slopes.
From the afternoon the possibility of trigger slab avalanches on moderately steep slopes increases on all sides. The new snow settles on unfavorable surfaces such as hard and smooth wind crusts.
- weak persistent layers thick layers of cohesion-free crystals inside the snowpack. They are mainly located on the coldest slopes in the shade, in the altitude that starts from 1800 m up to 2600 m at the most. The risk of a skier to solicit these weak layers and trigger slabs, even at a distance, is isolated.
Spontaneous avalanche activity low: rising from the afternoon and during the night.
Numerous small avalanches due to new snow from very steep slopes and rocky bars, but also medium-sized slab avalanches from leeward slopes. Locally, according to the morphology of the slopes, in the W sector, a single avalanche can reach the valley floor in the usual
canals. |
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| AVALANCHE DANGER TREND |
Monday 11: |
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Tuesday 12: |
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GENERAL CONDITION
updated to 2/8/2019 |
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Many weak layers in the snowpack. |
| Snowcover
Good amounts of snow in the west and north-west of the region, elsewhere the snowcover is good only above 2200 m.
Snowpack
Wind slabs characterize the highest altitudes but also basins, valleys above 2200 m. While from 1800 upwards and, where there is less snow, the strong gradient of the last month has formed a weak layer (faceted crystals, depth hoar, frost of embedded surface) on which many avalanches have slided in the last days. Between. Currently remote trigger is less likely because the characteristics of the surface layers of the mantle have changed. With the snowfall expected, however, the conditions may worsen again.
The fairly high refreezing level of these last days has created a bit of melting crust on the steepest and sunniest slopes.
Avalanche activity
Today no warning of natural avalanche.
Skiing conditions
Powdery snow, beautiful to ski at low altitudes in N and in areas sheltered from the wind, elsewhere chalky snow, bearing wind crusts and not, crusts and melt crusts and refreeze in the South up to 2500 m.
The west of the region is well snow-covered; in the remaining territory you have to be careful because the fresh snow hides the previous lack of bottom under 1900-2300 m and in the humps: it is easy to touch rocks.
Useful rampant in the areas most exposed to winds that have brought to the surface the old very hard and smooth.
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| EUROPEAN AVALANCHE DANGER SCALE |
 Rising avalanche danger during the day |
|  | 5 | VERY HIGH |
|  | 4 | HIGH |
|  | 3 | CONSIDERABLE |
|  | 2 | MODERATE |
|  | 1 | LOW |
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| TYPICAL AVALANCHE PROBLEMS |
CRITICAL LOCATIONS |
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| NEW SNOW |
WIND-DRIFTED SNOW | PERSISTENT WEAK
LAYERS |
WET SNOW |
GLIDING SNOW |
IN BLACK: THE MORE CRITICAL ASPECTS AND ELEVATIONS |
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Snow and avalanche bulletin n° 74 issued on 2/9/2019 at 00:00 p.m.
Snow and avalanche bulletin n° 74 issued on 2/9/2019 at 00:00 p.m.
Valid outside the ski runs controlled and managed by the ski resorts. |
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For an accurate interpretation of the Bulletin, go here
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