Hohgant

Weakly bonded old snow requires caution.

Weak layers in the upper part of the snowpack can still be released in some place by people. Avalanches can in some cases reach medium size. The avalanche prone locations are to be found especially in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. As a consequence of warming during the day and the solar radiation, the likelihood of dry avalanches being released will increase a little on steep south facing slopes. Backcountry touring and other off-piste activities call for careful route selection.

Snowpack There are expansively metamorphosed (faceted) loose layers evident which are embedded inside the snow cover over widespread areas. On the northern flank of the Alps these layers are frequently found in the upper part of the snowpack. Particularly in the southern Valais and in Grisons, parts of the entire snow cover are expansively metamorphosed (faceted) and loose. Further to the east, the faceted layers are blanketed over by layers of fresh snow and freshly generated snowdrift accumulations which formed last weekend. In the remaining regions of Switzerland the older snowdrift accumulations are deposited on top of faceted, weak layers in some places and are still prone to triggering. In the northern and furthermost western part of the Lower Valais the snowpack structure is most favourable and there are hardly any pronounced weak layers evident inside the snowpack. Observed weather review Friday, 10.02.2023 Following a night of clear skies it was sunny. Fresh snow - Temperature At midday at 2000 m, -2 °C. Wind Winds were blowing predominantly at light strength, intermittently at moderate velocity on the northern Alpine Ridge and in the southern regions, from northeasterly directions. Weather forecast through Saturday, 11.02.2023 Nocturnal skies will be predominantly clear. As morning approaches and during the later morning hours, high-altitude cloudbanks are expected to temporarily move into the southern and the eastern regions more than anywhere else. In the remaining regions of Switzerland it will be quite sunny. Fresh snow - Temperature At midday at 2000 m, +2 °C. Wind Winds wil be blowing predominantly at light strength, also at moderate velocity in the furthermost western regions, in the southern regions and in general at heightened altitudes, from northeasterly directions. Outlook through Monday, 13.02.2023 Following nights of clear skies it is expected to be sunny in the mountains. Winds will be blowing predominantly at light strength from easterly directions. Temperatures are expected to rise incrementally day by day. The zero-degree level will rise on Sunday in the western regions, on Monday over widespread areas subsequently, to 3000 m. The danger of dry-snow avalanches is expected to gradually diminish. On steep sunny slopes, isolated wet-snow slides and gliding avalanches are possible.