Gliding snow
- Alle Höhenlagen
Snowpack
With the moderate northeasterly wind, small snowdrift accumulations have formed in the north, with some larger ones in the south.
The old snowpack is quite favourable in the north, but in southern Valais and Grisons, it is faceted and is prone to triggering in places. In Ticino, the weak layers in the old snowpack are now so heavily covered that only isolated avalanches can be triggered in the old snowpack.
The snowpack is water-saturated on southern slopes up into high Alpine regions, as well as on western and eastern slopes below approximately 2000 to 2200 m. On northern slopes, it is superficially moistened below approximately 2500 m.
Weather forecast to Friday
After a mostly clear night, Friday will start sunny. Over the course of the day, cumulus clouds will form, especially in the north.
Fresh snow
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Temperature
At midday at 2000 m, between 0 °C in the north and +4 °C in the south
Wind
Weather review for Thursday
In Valais, the south and generally in the high Alpine regions conditions were mostly sunny, while elsewhere it was cloudy. In the north-east, a little snow fell above approximately 1600 m.
Fresh snow
Central and eastern part of the northern flank of the Alps and northern Grisons: up to 5 cm
Temperature
At midday at 2000 m, between 0 °C in the north and +4 °C in the south
Wind
Often moderate northeasterly
OutlookSaturday
Conditions will be very cloudy with precipitation in the north. The snowfall level will drop rapidly from 1600 to 1200 m. Most of the snowfall will be on the northern flank of the Alps, which will see 20 to 30 cm. There will be sunny intervals in the south. In the afternoon, winds will become increasingly strong from the north at high altitudes and in the south.
The risk of dry avalanches will increase, significantly so on the northern flank of the Alps. In the south, there will be a possibility of wet and gliding avalanches as the day progresses.
Sunday
The night to Sunday will be mostly cloudy in the north and a little snow will fall above 1300 m. During the day it will gradually become sunny and warmer again from the west. In Valais and Ticino a mostly clear night will be followed by sunny conditions. Overnight, the northerly to north-easterly winds will be strong to stormy at high altitudes, in the south and over the western Prealps, but the winds will subside over the course of the day.
The risk of dry avalanches will increase slightly in many regions during the night to Sunday with fresh drifting snow. Wet and gliding avalanches are to be expected over the course of the day. Touring skiing should be completed in good time.
Bulletin data: WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF (CC BY 4.0)