Pays d'Enhaut

At elevated altitudes a moderate avalanche danger will prevail.

On very steep sunny slopes moist snow slides are possible. Below approximately 2600 m individual wet and gliding avalanches are possible, in particular medium-sized ones.

Snowpack As a consequence of snowfall and moderate-strength northerly winds, snowdrift accumulations will be generated particularly in high alpine regions on the northern Alpine Ridge during the nocturnal hours. During the daytime hours, these snowdrifts will subsequently become blanketed by fresh snow. Beneath the fresh fallen snow of recent days the old snow cover on north-facing slopes below approximately 2700 m, in the other aspects up to over 3000 m, is thoroughly wet. In the southern part of the Valais and in Grisons more than anywhere else, as well as from place to place in the other regions of Switzerland, there are still pronounced weakened layers evident deeply embedded inside the snow cover. As temperatures have dropped, however, the activity of wet-snow avalanches has diminished. Avalanches which are triggered in the fresh fallen snow can sweep away the entire snow cover and grow to large size in isolated cases. Observed weather review Sunday, 14.05.2023 Skies were predominantly overcast. In the inneralpine and the southern regions there were brief intervals of brightness. Above approximately 2000 m there was intermittent snowfall registered. Fresh snow Above 2600 m, there was 5 to 10 cm of fresh snow registered, up to 15 cm from place to place in the high alpine regions. Temperature The zero-degree level at midday lay at 2500 m. Wind In the high alpine regions, winds were blowing at light strength from southerly directions to start with, the winds subsequently intensified to moderate strength, blowing from northerly directions during the course of the day. Weather forecast through Monday, 15.05.2023 In the northern regions, skies are expected to be heavily overcast, intermittent precipitation is anticipated. The snowfall level will lie at 1800 to 2000 m. In the inneralpine regions, bright intervals are anticipated, in the southern regions it will be quite sunny as a result of northerly winds. Fresh snow Between Sunday afternoon and Monday afternoon, the following amounts of fresh snow are expected above 2600 m:

• northern Alpine Ridge from the Aletsch region as far as Liechtenstein, northern Grisons: 10 to 20 cm, as much as 30 cm in the Glarus Alps;
• in the other regions of Switzerland, less for the most part;
• in the southern regions it is expected to remain dry.

Temperature The zero-degree level at midday will lie between 2300 m in the northern regions and 2700 m in the southern regions. Wind

• In the high alpine regions during the nighttime hours, winds will be blowing at moderate strength, intermittently at strong velocity, from northerly directions;
• during the daytime hours, winds will be blowing predominantly at light strength.

Outlook through Wednesday, 17.05.2023 Skies are expected to be heavily overcast. In the northern regions, precipitation is anticipated, persistent and intensive during Tuesday night. The snowfall level will lie at 2000 m, during Tuesday night the snowfall level could descend to below 1500 m. On the northern Alpine Ridge, 40 to 60 cm of fresh fallen snow is expected above 2500 m accompanied by moderate to strong-velocity northeasterly winds. In the southern Valais and in Grisons, 20 to 40 cm of fresh snow is possible. The danger of dry-snow avalanches is expected to increase to Danger Level 3, Considerable, in the northern regions at heightened altitudes and in the high alpine regions. In the southern regions, avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly. Below 2200 m, wet-snow avalanches are possible as a result ot the rainfall.

The new snow of the last few days represents the main danger. Avalanches can in some places be released by people and reach medium size. The number and size of avalanche prone locations will increase with altitude. In particular on north facing slopes avalanches can release the weakly bonded old snow as well and reach large size in isolated cases. Careful route selection is advisable.

The Avalanche Warning Service currently has only a small amount of information that has been collected in the field, so that the avalanche danger should be investigated especially thoroughly in the relevant locality.