The small-sized snowdrift accumulations of the last few days are still prone to triggering in some places on very steep shady
slopes. Steep south-facing slopes are encrusted on the surface and, particularly in the inneralpine regions and on the southern
flank of the Alps, bare of snow up to high altitudes. At high altitudes, as well as in general in ridgeline and pass areas,
the snowpack frequently bears striking effects of winds from northerly directions.
The snowdrift accumulations over widespread areas have been deposited on top of loose layers of snow which became expansively
metamorphosed (faceted) during the fine-weather period in the latter part of January. Beneath these faceted layers in the
Jura region, on the northern flank of the Alps and in the western part of the Lower Valais, frequently thick rain crusts which
formed during the last week of the old year are still evident up to high altitudes. These thick crusts tend to stabilise the
lowermost layers of the snowpack in these regions.
From the central Valais over the northern Ticino as far as Grisons, on the other hand, the entire snowpack is often expansively
metamorphosed (faceted) and riddled by thin melt-freeze crusts. To an increasing degree, you sink all the way down to the
ground on your skis.