Génépi

Weakly bonded old snow on north facing slopes. A critical avalanche situation will prevail, especially in Valais.

Even single snow sport participants can release avalanches. Remotely triggered and natural avalanches are possible in isolated cases. Avalanches can be released in the weakly bonded old snow and reach large size. These avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular on steep north facing slopes and in areas where the snow cover is rather shallow. As a consequence of warming during the day and the solar radiation, the likelihood of dry avalanches being released will increase. Backcountry touring calls for experience in the assessment of avalanche danger. Restraint is recommended, especially on steep north facing slopes.

Snowpack Fresh fallen snow and freshly generated snowdrifts from Tuesday are still triggerable in some places. Furthermore, expansively metamorphosed (faceted) weak layers which are evident deeply embedded inside the snow cover are still prone to triggering, particularly on north-facing slopes. In the Valais and on the northern flank of the Alps, these weak layers are for the most part blanketed with thick layers of fresher snow. Avalanches can be triggered in particular still in places where the snow is relatively shallow in these expansively metamorphosed (faceted) layers deeply inside the old snowpack and subsequently grow to large size. In the Ticino and in central and southern Grisons, these weak layers are located nearer to the surface and thus, are still more easily triggerable. As a consequence of intense solar radiation and a significant rise in temperatures, increasingly frequent medium-sized, in western regions also large-sized wet-snow and gliding avalanches can be expected during the course of the day. Observed weather review Wednesday, 15.03.2023 On Tuesday night there was intermittent snowfall registered in the northern regions, in the Valais and in Grisons. The snowfall level descended from 2000 m down to low lying areas. In the southern regions it remained dry. During the daytime hours it was dry and quite sunny in all the regions of Switzerland. Fresh snow Between Tuesday midday and Wednesday morning the following amounts of fresh snow were registered above 2000 m:

• northern and furthermost western parts of the Lower Valais, Glarus Alps: 20 to 40 cm;
• in the remaining regions 10 to 20 cm widespread;
• on the southern flank of the Alps it remained dry.

Temperature At midday at 2000 m, between -7 °C in the northern regions and -3 °C in the southern regions. Wind

• On Tuesday night, winds were blowing at moderate to strong velocity from northwesterly directions.
• During the daytime hours on the southern flank of the Alps, winds were blowing at moderate to strong velocity from northerly directions, in the other regions of Switzerland at light to moderate strength.

Weather forecast through Thursday, 16.03.2023 Nocturnal skies on Wednesday night will be partly cloudy in the eastern regions, in the other regions of Switzerland skies will be predominantly clear. During the daytime hours on Thursday it will be sunny. Fresh snow - Temperature Temperatures are expected to rise. At midday, between +3 °C in the western regions, +1 °C in the eastern regions and -3 °C in the southern regions; in late afternoon the zero-degree level in the western regions will reach 3000 m. Wind Winds are expected to be blowing at light to moderate strength from westerly directions. Outlook through Saturday, 18.03.2023 On Friday it will be sunny and very mild. The zero-degree level will lie at 3300 m. On Saturday it will be only partly sunny. The zero-degree level will lie at 2400 m. The danger of dry-snow avalanches will continue to decrease. As a consequence of daytime rise in temperatures and solar radiation, wet-snow and gliding avalanches can be expected.