Grimselpass

Snowpack

Lots of new snow accompanied by strong southerly winds has resulted in thick layers of new snow and wind slabs in the south. These layers are prone to triggering. In the south, there is a widespread compact layer of snow from the repeated snowfall of the last week lying beneath the new snow that has fallen in recent days. In the north, wind slabs that are prone to triggering formed on Saturday owing to the southerly wind. These wind slabs will continue to grow somewhat on Sunday.

The old snowpack is compact in many places. However, it also contains various crusts and, between them, layers with a faceted crystal structure, in which avalanches have been repeatedly released in recent days, especially in the inneralpine regions.

Gliding avalanches are still possible, primarily on east-, south- and west-facing slopes below approximately 2400 m and more rarely on north-facing slopes. These may occasionally be large.

Weather forecast until Sunday, 03.03.2024

The south will see intense precipitation, which will fall as snow above 1200 to 1400 m. Otherwise, it will be cloudy with clear and sunny spells, especially in the inneralpine regions.

New snow

From Saturday afternoon to Sunday afternoon, the following amounts of snow will fall above approximately 1600 m:

• Main Alpine Ridge in Upper Valais, Bedretto, Valle Maggia: 50 to 80 cm;
• rest of the Main Alpine Ridge from Val Ferret to the Lukmanier Pass, rest of northern and central Ticino: 30 to 50 cm;
• remaining central part of the southern flank of the Alps: 20 to 30 cm;
• neighbouring regions to the north of the regions exposed to heavier precipitation and in the Upper Engadine: 10 to 20, otherwise less or dry.

Temperature

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

Wind

• There will be a strong to storm-force southerly wind.
• There will be a strong southerly foehn wind in the Alpine valleys of the north.

Weather review for Saturday, 02.03.2024

In the west and north, it was partly sunny during the day after a partly clear night. Intense precipitation fell in the south at times during the night. The intensity of the precipitation eased during the day. The snowfall level was between 1200 and 1400 m.

New snow

From Friday afternoon to Saturday afternoon, the following amounts of fresh snow fell above 1800 m:

• Main Alpine Ridge from the Simplon region to Obergoms along the border with Italy, western Ticino: 30 to 50 cm;
• directly neighbouring regions: 15 to 25 cm;
• Engadine: 5 to 15 cm.

Since the precipitation began on Thursday evening, the following amounts of precipitation have been recorded above approximately 1800 m:

• Main Alpine Ridge from the Simplon region to Obergoms, western Ticino: 60 to 100 cm;
• directly neighbouring regions, remaining central part of the southern flank of the Alps: 40 to 60 cm;
• rest of the Main Alpine Ridge in Upper Valais, Main Alpine Ridge from the Lukmanier Pass to the Bernina Pass: 20 to 40 cm, otherwise widespread 10 to 20 cm.

Temperature

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

Wind

There was a weak to moderate wind during the night, increasing during the day, and a moderate to strong southerly wind, especially on the Northern Alpine Ridge.

Trend until Tuesday, 05.03.2024Monday

Snow will fall in the west and south during Sunday night into Monday. A further 20 to 40 cm of snow is expected on the Upper Valais part of the Main Alpine Ridge and in western Ticino, and up to 50 cm from the Monte Rosa to the Simplon region. It will be fairly sunny in the mountains during the day. The wind will die down during Monday night into Tuesday and will be weak during the day.

The avalanche situation will remain critical, especially in the regions exposed to heavier precipitation. Numerous loose snow avalanches, including large ones, are to be anticipated in these regions as a result of solar radiation.

Tuesday

After a partly clear Monday night into Tuesday, it will be very cloudy during the day with little precipitation in all regions. The snowfall level will be around 1000 m. There will be a mostly weak wind.

The danger of dry avalanches will fall in the south, otherwise it will not change significantly.