Val d'Ultimo · 14 January 2026

Day Risk Profile

Low

below treeline

Moderate

above treeline

Avalanche Problems

Above treeline

Moderate (2) Dry avalanches · all day

Wind slab Slab 2

N, NE, E, SE, W, NW

above treeline

Medium Few Poor

GM.6

Field notes

Look for fresh snow deposits on Slope facing downwind/ wind sheltered aspect. Snow deposits can attain several times average snow depth.EAWS glossary, in Usually a steep, elongated, eroded trench; typically prone to snowdrift accumulation.EAWS glossary and Rounded or elongated concavity; typically tending to accumulate snowdrift.EAWS glossary, and behind ridgelines and abrupt changes in terrain — these are where the wind has loaded the snow into slabs that are easy to trigger. Recent avalanches, shooting cracks under your weight, and Distinctive noise (resembling a “whumpf” sound) occurring when a weak layer beneath a slab collapses. The air of the weak layer is forced outside the snowpack, with the resulting whumpf sound being heard. The sound usually indicates an unstable situation and can be accompanied by surface cracking. A whumpf is a clear avalanche alert.EAWS glossary sounds are clear confirmations of the problem. The safest move is to avoid wind-loaded terrain entirely. NB wind signs alone don't always mean an avalanche problem exists, and the age of drifted snow is hard to judge.

Source: SLF Avalanche Bulletin Interpretation Guide

Avalanche Activity

Wind slabs are to be avoided.

The fresh and older wind slabs can be released by a single winter sport participant in some cases. The Locations delineated by aspect or altitude where avalanches can trigger and people or objects are at risk.EAWS glossary are to be found in particular on west to north to southeast facing Direction in which a slope faces as indicated by compass direction of the fall line; i.e. a north slope faces in a northerly direction.EAWS glossary above the tree line. Caution is to be exercised in particular adjacent to ridgelines and in Usually a steep, elongated, eroded trench; typically prone to snowdrift accumulation.EAWS glossary and Rounded or elongated concavity; typically tending to accumulate snowdrift.EAWS glossary. In isolated cases avalanches are medium-sized. Apart from the danger of being buried, restraint should be exercised in particular in view of the danger of avalanches sweeping people along and giving rise to falls.

Outlook

Decreasing avalanche danger

15 January 2026

Gradual decrease in avalanche danger as a consequence of warming.

Snowpack & Weather

Snowpack

In some cases the various wind slabs have bonded still only poorly with each other and the Snow layers deposited from earlier precipitation, prior to fresh fallen snow. Old snow layers consist of metamorphosed snow crystals.EAWS glossary. The old snowpack consists of Snow grains, solid, with multiple flat glassy faces and sharp edges. Developed from faceting metamorphism, usually poorly bonded to one another (fewer contact points), a critical factor in avalanches if a faceted layer is covered with bonded snow. Typical grain size: 0.5 to 3 mm See also: www.snowcrystals.itEAWS glossary. The Snow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary will be generally subject to considerable local variations. Only a small amount of snow is lying for the time of year in all altitude zones.

Source

ALBINA

Issued

13 Jan 16:00 UTC

Valid until

14 Jan 16:00 UTC

Next update

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