Vallarsa · 12 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

All aspects

above treeline

Medium Few Poor

GM.6 GM.7

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

The wind slabs represent the main danger.

In all 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 precarious wind slabs formed. This applies especially 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. The Locations delineated by aspect or altitude where avalanches can trigger and people or objects are at risk.EAWS glossary are rather rare and are clearly recognisable to the trained eye. The wind slabs can be released easily in some cases above approximately 2000 m. Caution is to be exercised at their margins in particular. In isolated cases avalanches can be triggered in the weakly bonded old snow. In very isolated cases avalanches are medium-sized. Apart from the danger of being buried, restraint should be exercised as well in view of the danger of avalanches sweeping people along and giving rise to falls.

Outlook

Constant avalanche danger

13 January 2026

The avalanche danger will persist.

Snowpack & Weather

Snowpack

Little snow has fallen in particular in the north and in the west. The avalanche-prone wind slabs are lying on soft layers in particular on shady slopes at elevated altitudes. The wind slabs have bonded poorly with the Snow layers deposited from earlier precipitation, prior to fresh fallen snow. Old snow layers consist of metamorphosed snow crystals.EAWS glossary. Faceted Snowpack layer in which the crystals are poorly bonded and the layer has the potential to fail. Typical crystals in dry weak layers causing avalanches are : precipitation particles; surface hoar; faceted crystals; hollow crystals; graupel. Generally >1mm in size, loose grains with few bonds Wet weak layers can be formed by all snow crystal/grain types.EAWS glossary exist in the bottom section of the old snowpack in particular on wind-protected shady slopes. The Snow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary will be generally subject to considerable local variations. Over a wide area a little snow is lying.

Source

ALBINA

Issued

12 Jan 06:27 UTC

Valid until

12 Jan 16:00 UTC

Next update

—

Schedule

Off-schedule