Saas Fee

Snowpack

On and to the south of the Main Alpine Ridge, new snow and wind slabs are prone to triggering at high altitudes. Below approximately 2400 m, the snowpack in these regions is weakened by the sometimes heavy rain. In the other regions, the surface of the snowpack at high altitudes is hard and characterised by the mild temperatures and strong southerly winds in many places.

The old snowpack has become soaked up to over 3000 m on east-, south- and west-facing slopes and up to around 2500 m on north-facing slopes. Particularly in the inneralpine regions, wet slab avalanches, including large ones, are possible on north-facing slopes as the moistening process progresses again.

Gliding avalanches are still possible, increasingly so once again at high altitudes.

Weather forecast until Thursday, 02.05.2024

There will be widespread precipitation, especially heavy in the south. The snowfall level will drop from 2300 m to 1800 m. In the east it will be mostly dry with some bright intervals.

New snow

From Wednesday afternoon to Thursday afternoon, the following amounts of fresh snow are expected above approximately 2600 m:

• Upper Valais Main Alpine Ridge, northern and central Ticino: 30 to 50 cm;
• rest of the Main Alpine Ridge, Aletsch region: 15 to 30 cm;
• elsewhere: a few centimetres, or it will remain dry.

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, +4 °C in the north and +2 °C in the south.

Wind

Winds will be light to moderate, strong at times at high altitudes in the south and east, blowing from the south.

Weather review for Wednesday, 01.05.2024

It was often cloudy, with precipitation falling in the south. The snowfall level was between 2200 and 2400 m.

New snow

From Tuesday evening to Wednesday afternoon, the following amounts of fresh snow were recorded above approximately 2800 m:

• Main Alpine Ridge from the Saas Valley to the Simplon Pass: 20 to 40 cm;
• rest of the Valais Main Alpine Ridge, Bedretto, Aletsch region: 5 to 15 cm.

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, between +8 °C in the north and +6 °C in the south.

Wind

There were moderate southerly winds, sometimes strong on the Northern Alpine Ridge.

Trend until Saturday, 04.05.2024

It will often be cloudy and there will be some precipitation widely until Saturday morning. The snowfall level will be between 1500 and 1800 m. In the north, 10 to 20 cm of new snow will fall widely at high altitudes, with only a little snowfall in the south. The wind will mostly be light to moderate, blowing from various directions. On Saturday, it will be partly sunny during the day.

The danger of dry avalanches will increase slightly in the north on Friday, otherwise it will decrease. Gliding avalanches will still be possible.