Snow report Livigno, 01/28/2016

Snow condition

Unfortunately the snow cover is poor: 20cm are recorded in the valley and about 30cm in the alpine. Mainly in the alpine, the snow cover is irregularly distributed and you cannot have confidence to ski fast: the probability to crash on stones is too high. Below treeline, on the Northern slopes, the snow cover depth is more homogeneous but quite scarce. Nice snow for skiing can only be found on the shadowed and shaded zones, generally at lower elevations; however the snowpack is quite shallow.

Snow quality

At all elevations, mainly on Southern slopes, snow free zones are interchanged to areas with a thin melt-freeze crust on the snow surface. In the alpine, snow was strongly wind affected and the snow free areas are widespread. In some gullies and behind slope discontinuities there are snow-drifting accumulations, which are the only skiable areas. Mainly on Northern slopes, above about 2200m, where there is snow since December, the base is formed by persistent weak layers.

Especially above treeline, where persistent weak layers formed, avalanches could be triggered in the deeper part of the snow cover. During the warmest hours of the day, on the extremely steep southern slopes, especially in the nearness of rocks, small sized loose snow avalanches are possible. The shallow snow cover makes probable to hit hidden rocks. Apart from the danger of being buried, the danger of avalanches sweeping people along and giving rise to falls needs to be considered.

Overall impression

Off-piste skiing is still hot-headed; snowpack is too scares and the rocks are too many...But, with that nice temperature and cool mountain view, a cold Braulio drink is a pleasure too!