We are in mid-May, the ski mountaineering season continues at high altitude; Although many huts have closed, there is still good snowfall on different itineraries. In mid-mountain snow it is scarce or absent, while the valley tops of the Gran Paradiso and Valgrisenche are better snowy and you can put on your skis above 2000-2200 m.
From Thursday, 11 pm and Friday, 12 still a weak snowfall affected much of the regional territory. The rain / snow limit is around 2100-2200 m, above this quota the quantities grow: 2500 m on average 10-15 cm (less in the area of Gran San Bernardo, Valpelline and Valtournenche), tips of 20 cm in the Mont Blanc area
At high altitude the wind during the snowfall has been moderately southeast. This wind has found a fair amount of loose snow accumulated with recent snowfall (also 20-40 cm): it is therefore possible that new wind slabs are formed.
The avalanche problems are:
- wet snow : the coming days will have a variable proceeding, typically springtime, with rising temperatures and low precipitation possible, and possible little overnight refreezing. If the nights are peaceful there will be a good rewind of the superficial layers, in case of cloudy nights the reel will be scarce or absent making skiing difficult. The snowpack be affected by the temperature rise and the strong sunlight of May although partly mitigated by additional freezing level still low: the snow is too heavy, with quick adjustment and hardening on the sunny slopes. It is possible to increase instability in particular especially in the warmer hours with possible wet snow avalanches from very steep slopes, especially close to rocks even at high altitude.
wind-drifted snow: above 3000-3200 m windloads are present, more and more widespread in the Mont-Blanc region and large going up with altitude, and they are located in gullies and channels, but mainly close to ridges and passes. On the steep slopes, with the passage of a single skier/hiker, it is possible to trigger small or medium slab avalanches, especially on slope changes.
The next report will be issued depending on the snow and weather conditions evolution. |