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Avalanche bulletin through Wednesday, 1. February 2023
Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow require caution
Edition: Tue 31.01., 17:00 Next update: Wed 01.02., 17:00 Validity
Avalanche bulletin through Wednesday, 1. February 2023
Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow require caution
Edition Tue 31.01., 17:00 Next update Wed 01.02., 17:00 Validity
Avalanche bulletin through Wednesday, 1. February 2023
Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow require caution
Edition Tue 31.01., 17:00 Next update Wed 01.02., 17:00 Validity
Avalanche bulletin through Wednesday, 1. February 2023
Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow require caution
Edition Tue 31.01., 17:00 Next update Wed 01.02., 17:00 Validity



































Old snow, Snow drift
Avalanche prone locations
Danger level "moderate" (2+) in all aspects above 2200m. Other slopes about one danger level less.
Danger description
To some extent avalanches can be released in the old snowpack and reach medium size. These avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack.
In addition wind slabs formed in particular in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. These are lying on the unfavourable surface of an old snowpack. Fresh and older wind slabs are to be evaluated with care and prudence.
Backcountry touring and other off-piste activities call for careful route selection.
Snow drift, Old snow
Avalanche prone locations
Danger level "moderate" (2+) in all aspects above 2000m. Other slopes about one danger level less.
Danger description
As a consequence of a strong northwesterly wind, wind slabs formed in particular in gullies and bowls and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. They are rather small but in some cases prone to triggering. The fresh and older wind slabs are to be evaluated with care and prudence in steep terrain.
Avalanches can additionally in isolated cases be released in deeper layers also. These can in some cases reach medium size. Such avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack.
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.
Snow drift, Old snow
Avalanche prone locations
Danger level "moderate" (2=) in all aspects above 2200m. Other slopes about one danger level less.
Danger description
As a consequence of a strong northwesterly wind, wind slabs formed in particular in gullies and bowls and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. They are mostly small but in some cases prone to triggering. Fresh and older wind slabs are to be evaluated with care and prudence in particular in very steep terrain.
Avalanches can additionally in isolated cases be released in deeper layers also. These can in some cases reach medium size. Such avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack.
Backcountry touring and other off-piste activities call for careful route selection.
Snow drift
Avalanche prone locations
Danger level "moderate" (2-) in all aspects above 2400m. Other slopes about one danger level less.
Danger description
As a consequence of a sometimes strong northwesterly wind, mostly small wind slabs formed. These are to be evaluated with care and prudence in particular in very steep terrain.
Careful route selection is recommended.
Snow drift
As a consequence of a sometimes strong northwesterly wind, mostly shallow wind slabs formed. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular in extremely steep terrain. Even a small avalanche can sweep people along and give rise to falls.
From southern Valais through the Gotthard region to Grisons, numerous soft faceted layers exist in the snowpack between compacted layers and crusts. These faceted layers are especially prevalent in places with shallow snow cover, where the snowpack can be penetrated down to the ground by skis. On the northern flank of the Alps the base of the snowpack is well bonded in many instances, but multiple faceted layers exist nearer the surface. The bonding of the snowpack is most favourable in the extreme west of Lower Valais and in northern Lower Valais.
- Moderate, sometimes strong, from westerly directions
- At elevated altitudes and in the south, strong to storm force from northerly directions
- Light to moderate from westerly directions
- At elevated altitudes, moderate, on the main Alpine ridge and in the east, sometimes strong, from the northwest
- Moderate to strong from westerly directions
- At elevated altitudes and in the south, strong from the northwest
As a consequence of fresh snow, wind and the unfavourable old snow surfaces, the avalanche danger will increase significantly in the north as the day progresses. In the south it will not change significantly.
As a consequence of fresh snow and wind, the avalanche danger will continue to increase in central and eastern parts of the northern flank of the Alps and in parts of Grisons. In the other regions it will not change significantly.
Your observations can improve the quality of the avalanche bulletin. We are very grateful for any reports and photos received.
Please report your observations of avalanches or alarm signs, or your estimation of the avalanche danger, or simply send us a picture illustrating the current situation. Your report from the field will be considered along with all the other information when we assess the avalanche danger. It is impossible, however, to reflect the exact content of each individual report in the avalanche bulletin.
The best way to file a report is by completing the interactive form on this page. If your report is to be used in the 5 pm avalanche bulletin, it should be submitted before 2:30 pm if possible. Reports received later will normally be given consideration in the next assessment.
Other reporting options:
- White Risk App
- E-mail to bulletin(at)slf.ch
- Freephone number 0800 800 187
From southern Valais through the Gotthard region to Grisons, numerous soft faceted layers exist in the snowpack between compacted layers and crusts. These faceted layers are especially prevalent in places with shallow snow cover, where the snowpack can be penetrated down to the ground by skis. On the northern flank of the Alps the base of the snowpack is well bonded in many instances, but multiple faceted layers exist nearer the surface. The bonding of the snowpack is most favourable in the extreme west of Lower Valais and in northern Lower Valais.
- Moderate, sometimes strong, from westerly directions
- At elevated altitudes and in the south, strong to storm force from northerly directions
- Light to moderate from westerly directions
- At elevated altitudes, moderate, on the main Alpine ridge and in the east, sometimes strong, from the northwest
- Moderate to strong from westerly directions
- At elevated altitudes and in the south, strong from the northwest
As a consequence of fresh snow, wind and the unfavourable old snow surfaces, the avalanche danger will increase significantly in the north as the day progresses. In the south it will not change significantly.
As a consequence of fresh snow and wind, the avalanche danger will continue to increase in central and eastern parts of the northern flank of the Alps and in parts of Grisons. In the other regions it will not change significantly.
Have you observed alarm signs or an avalanche?
More information about observations
Please report your observations of avalanches or alarm signs, or your estimation of the avalanche danger, or simply send us a picture illustrating the current situation. Your report from the field will be considered along with all the other information when we assess the avalanche danger. It is impossible, however, to reflect the exact content of each individual report in the avalanche bulletin.
The best way to file a report is by completing the interactive form on this page. If your report is to be used in the 5 pm avalanche bulletin, it should be submitted before 2:30 pm if possible. Reports received later will normally be given consideration in the next assessment.
Other reporting options:
- White Risk App
- E-mail to bulletin(at)slf.ch
- Freephone number 0800 800 187
No avalanche bulletin is published currently. Nevertheless, you should still stay up to date with the avalanche situation in the mountains, especially if there is fresh snow.
However, the SLF will, by way of exception, also issue avalanche bulletins in the summer in case of heavy snowfall. There are different ways you can be notified when these bulletins based on the snow situation are published:
- by push alert on SLF's free White Risk mobile app: appearing in four languages (English, German, French and Italian), this can be downloaded from iTunes App Store (for iPhones) or Google Play Store (for Android);
- via an RSS feed which informs you whenever an avalanche bulletin is published.
Depending on the snow and avalanche situation, the regular publication of avalanche bulletins recommences in November/December.
Have you observed alarm signs or an avalanche?
More information about observations
Please report your observations of avalanches or alarm signs, or your estimation of the avalanche danger, or simply send us a picture illustrating the current situation. Your report from the field will be considered along with all the other information when we assess the avalanche danger. It is impossible, however, to reflect the exact content of each individual report in the avalanche bulletin.
The best way to file a report is by completing the interactive form on this page. If your report is to be used in the 5 pm avalanche bulletin, it should be submitted before 2:30 pm if possible. Reports received later will normally be given consideration in the next assessment.
Other reporting options:
- White Risk App
- E-mail to bulletin(at)slf.ch
- Freephone number 0800 800 187
Social media
Further information on the avalanche bulletin and avalanche danger, interesting facts about WhiteRisk and much more at @whiteriskslf: