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.
In the last few days only isolated gliding avalanches
were reported.
On shady slopes the upper part of the snow cover is expansively metamorphosed (faceted) and loose, in some places there is
surface hoar blanketing the surface. This is an unfavourable snow base for the approaching snowfall. On south-facing slopes
the snowpack surface shows marked effects of the sun and is more favourable for that reason.