Fresh Snow But High Avalanche Risk in the Alps
Fresh Snow But High Avalanche Risk in the Alps
Published : 05-Apr-2018 06:22
There has been lots more fresh snow in the Alps over the past 48 hours, still building on bases that are at 'historic highs' of up to 7 metres.
The Swiss side of the Portes du Soleil reported 25cm more snow in the past 24 hours, Bormio in Italy 30cm (a foot) and Morzine 40cm (16 inches). The Swiss area of Les Marecottes (pictured above) claimed the biggest total snowfall since Wednesday of 46cm. It closes for the season this Sunday.
However avalanche warning services are pointing out that the combination of fresh snow and warming temperatures means the risk of spontaneous avalanches is very high. At Chamonix the danger scale is put at level 4, one below maximum danger.
"The fresh snow gets little chance to consolidate by refreezing overnight before it is very quickly destabilized by the hot sun, even in the high mountains," the resort's current avalanche risk report states, continuing,
"Spontaneous wet snow avalanches are possible from this Thursday evening with a higher probability on Friday afternoon. Wet snow will be sliding on an old hard and smooth layer from mid –mountain to the ground. Some may be big. Crumbling or breaks of cornices are possible."
The report continues that along with spontaneous avalanches skiers / hikers could trigger avalanches, particularly on steeper East to South facing slopes.
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