In the lower part of the snowpack, particularly on west-facing, north-facing and east-facing slopes above approximately 2200
m, weak layers are evident. In the western Lower Valais and on the northern flank of the Alps these ground-level layers are
covered over by thick layers of fresher snow so that the likelihood of avalanches being triggered by persons is low. From
central Valais over the Ticino as far as Grisons, the snowpack layering is least favourable. In those regions, there have
been medium-sized avalanches triggered by persons during the last few days.
Gliding avalanches can still trigger on steep grass-covered slopes which have not yet discharged in isolated cases.
On shady slopes the upper part of the snow cover is expansively metamorphosed (faceted) and loose in many areas, in some places
there is surface hoar blanketing the surface. On steep south-facing slopes a melt-freeze crust forms during the nocturnal
hours which is capable of bearing loads.