Extraordinary avalanche situation - Tuesday 8:15

23.01.2018  | 08:15 |  News

High avalanche danger will be encountered over a wide area

On Tuesday morning the weeklong period of snowfall came to an end. This round brought to the major areas of precipitation in the northern Alpine Ridge, in the Valais and in northern Grisons 200 to 300 cm of new snow over widespread areas. In those regions, many large-sized avalanches, in some places also very large-sized avalanches, released naturally during the last few days.

As of the end of this period of heavy precipitation, the avalanche danger in the major areas of precipitation recedes to danger level 4 (high). Naturally released avalanches will diminish significantly. However, in isolated cases large-sized avalanches are still possible. The instructions of public offices and local safety authorities still need to be heeded. Backcountry skiing and freeriding activities away from secured ski runs are still exposed to extremely dangerous conditions.

The SLF ranks the avalanche danger in the Valais, on the northern Alpine Ridge, in wide-ranging sectors of Grisons and in the Gotthard region at danger level 4, “high”. In the remaining regions of the Alps, danger level 3 (considerable) prevails.

Media contact: Tel. 081 417 03 93, medien@slf.ch

For further information, please consult the Avalanche Bulletin