Rare level 5 avalanche warning issued for Valais

Authorities in Switzerland have issued a rare level five danger warning for parts of Valais as the risk of avalanches is now very high. A number of roads are closed in the area.

Highest avalanche warning issued for parts of Valais

The federal government has issued a level five danger warning, the highest possible, for parts of canton Valais as the risk of avalanches has increased. This warning was issued on Tuesday, February 17 at 8am and the next update is due on the same day at 5pm.

“This is an extremely rare occurrence, even for Switzerland,” reports Watson. On Monday, February 16, a level four avalanche warning was already in place for large parts of the Swiss Alps. 

The level five danger warning now applies to Val d'Entremont-Val Ferret, Emosson, Conthey-Fully, Montana, Leukerbad-Lötschental, Riederalp and Konkordia. “Very large and spontaneous avalanches are expected” across these regions, meaning that they can trigger by themselves. “Tours and off-piste skiing are strongly discouraged” by the Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF.

The avalanche risk has increased due to heavy snowfall on top of previous snow, creating unstable layers that can trigger an avalanche. A level five danger warning is issued on just 0,5 percent of days in the winter, compared to a level three which is issued on around 33 percent of winter days, on average. 

Roads closed and village evacuated due to avalanche risk

The severe weather is causing delays on the roads and affecting local towns. Car transport to the Furka and Lötschberg mountain passes is closed after an avalanche derailed a train on Monday morning. 

The route between Goppenstein and Gampel-Steg, as well as roads to Saas-Fee and Saas-Grund, Zermatt, Zinal, and Arolla, are also closed until further notice. Klöntalerstrasse between Rhodannenberg and Vorauen in canton Glarus is also not currently accessible.

A number of ski resorts, such as those in Les Marécottes, Orsières and Grächen, are all currently closed due to the severe risk of avalanches. Around 50 people have been evacuated from the villages of La Fouly and Ferret in Valais due to severe weather, strong winds and a high likelihood of an avalanche reaching the towns.