Vallarsa · 26 January 2026

Day Risk Profile

Low

below treeline

Considerable

above treeline

Avalanche Problems

Above treeline

Considerable (3) Dry avalanches · all day

Persistent weak layers + Wind slab Slab 3

N, NE, E, W, NW

above treeline

Large Some Poor

GM.6 GM.1

Field notes

Persistent weak layers

Persistent 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 are very challenging to recognise. 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 and shooting cracks are typical when present, but you can have a serious weak layer with no warning signs at the surface. Knowledge of how the Snow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary has evolved is essential. SLF's travel advice is direct: travel conservatively, avoid terrain where the consequences of being caught are large, and treat the history of weather and snow as more important than what you can see today. Read the full bulletin.

Wind slab

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 and weakly bonded old snow represent the main danger.

The fresh snow as well as the wind slabs can be released easily in particular on west to north to east 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 approximately 2000 m. Especially here avalanches can be triggered in the faceted old snow and reach medium size. Caution is to be exercised in particular 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 abrupt changes in the terrain, as well as in places that are protected from the wind. The Locations delineated by aspect or altitude where avalanches can trigger and people or objects are at risk.EAWS glossary are barely recognisable. The number and size of avalanche prone locations will increase with altitude. 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. Small and, in isolated cases, medium-sized loose snow avalanches are to be expected as a consequence of solar radiation.

Outlook

Constant avalanche danger

27 January 2026

Snowpack & Weather

Snowpack

In some regions 20 to 40 cm of snow has fallen above approximately 1200 m. As a consequence of a strong wind from southerly directions, soft wind slabs formed. These are lying on top of a weakly bonded Snow layers deposited from earlier precipitation, prior to fresh fallen snow. Old snow layers consist of metamorphosed snow crystals.EAWS glossary above approximately 2000 m. This applies especially in shady places that are protected from the wind. The old snowpack is faceted. The old snowpack will be subject to considerable local variations.

Source

ALBINA

Issued

26 Jan 07:00 UTC

Valid until

26 Jan 16:00 UTC

Next update

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Schedule

Off-schedule