Grimselpass

Snowpack

In high Alpine regions, last week's fresh and drifted snow is lying primarily on steep north-facing slopes on weak layers in the upper part of the old snowpack. Avalanche reports from recent days confirm that these weak layers are in some cases prone to triggering.

Further saturation of the snowpack is currently scarcely progressing. Wet snow avalanches that can sweep away the entire snowpack are therefore relatively rare. The most critical areas are north-facing slopes between 2200 and 2600 m.

Weather forecast to Sunday

There will be mostly cloudy skies overnight to Sunday. In the morning, there will be precipitation especially in the south, but also in the west during the day. The snowfall level will be around 2400 m. The east will remain mostly dry with brighter intervals.

Fresh snow

On the main Alpine ridge and south of there above 2800 m, up to 10 cm, elsewhere less or dry

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, +6 °C in the west, +4 °C in the south and +8 °C in the east

Wind

Increasingly moderate southwesterly wind during the day

Weather review for Saturday

Overnight to Saturday, some heavy showers and storms passed through in the north, but in southern Valais, Grisons and Ticino, the night sky was often clear. During the day, conditions were very sunny with some denser patches of cloud, especially in the east.

Fresh snow

A few centimetres on the northern Alpine ridge in high Alpine regions

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, around +8 °C

Wind

Light southerly, sometimes moderate overnight

Outlook to Tuesday

There will be widespread precipitation until Tuesday morning. The snowfall level on Monday will be around 2100 m, dropping during the night to Tuesday to 1800 m, and as low as 1400 m in the northeast. On the northern Alpine ridge and in westernmost Lower Valais, a total of 20 to 40 cm of snow will fall at high altitudes, with 15 to 30 cm in Grisons. During the daytime on Tuesday conditions will be very sunny in the south and in Valais, while elsewhere cloudy intervals will continue. On Monday, there will be a moderate westerly wind, which will become increasingly strong from the afternoon onwards, reaching storm-force at times in high Alpine regions. On Tuesday the wind will ease off as the day progresses.

The fresh snow and strong winds will create snowdrift accumulations that are prone to triggering. The danger of dry avalanches will increase, especially in high Alpine regions. In addition, with the sunshine on Tuesday the fresh snow is expected to produce loose snow avalanches and wet snow slides.