obere Maggiatäler

Considerable avalanche danger will be encountered over a wide area.

Fresh wind slabs are to be found in particular in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. They can in some cases be released easily. The wind slabs are to be evaluated with care and prudence in steep terrain. Careful route selection is required.

Snowpack In the period from Sunday until Tuesday morning a lot of snow fell in the west and north. The strong to storm force wind gave rise to extensive snow drift accumulations. The fresh snow and wind slabs are prone to triggering. In addition, further snow drift accumulations will form on the northern flank of the Alps on Wednesday as a consequence of a strong westerly wind. The fresh snow and snow drift accumulations of recent days are lying on an unfavourable weak old snowpack containing faceted layers, in particular above approximately 2200 to 2400 m. Here, avalanches can even release the entire snowpack. As a consequence of rain, small gliding avalanches and moist snow slides are to be expected, in particular on the northern flank of the Alps below 1800 m. Observed weather review Tuesday, 10.01.2023 During the night, snow fell even at low altitudes in the west and north. During the day it became sunny from the west and south. Fresh snow Between Sunday morning and Tuesday morning above 1600 m:

• Lower Valais in the extreme west and north, Leukerbad-Lötschental region: 60 to 100 cm
• Western part of the northern flank of the Alps from Chablais to the Schilthorn excluding the Prealps, rest of northern Upper Valais, rest of southern Lower Valais: 40 to 60 cm
• Western Jura, rest of the northern flank of the Alps, southern Lower Valais excluding the main Alpine ridge from the Matterhorn to the Simplon Pass, northern Grisons, Engadine, Val Bregaglia, Val Poschiavo: 20 to 40 cm
• Elsewhere: 10 to 20 cm

Temperature At midday at 2000 m: between -7 °C in the north and -4 °C in the south Wind From the west to north

• On the main Alpine ridge and at elevated altitudes, moderate to strong
• Otherwise light to moderate

Weather forecast through Wednesday, 11.01.2023 During the night a little precipitation will fall. A temporary dry spell will follow. In the morning there will be further prolonged bright spells in the south and in Grisons. Elsewhere, light precipitation will return from the west. The snowfall level will be approximately 1700 m, dropping slowly towards the evening. Fresh snow From Tuesday evening until Wednesday afternoon:

• Northern flank of the Alps, extreme west of Lower Valais: 5 to 10 cm above 2000 m
• Highest peaks in western Jura: 5 to 10 cm
• Less elsewhere and dry in Ticino and Grisons

Temperature At midday at 2000 m: about +1 °C, falling in the afternoon Wind From the west to northwest

• In the north, moderate, becoming stronger as the day progresses
• In the south, light to moderate

Outlook through Friday, 13.01.2023 Snow will fall at times in the north on each of the coming days. The snowfall level will fluctuate between 1000 and 1500 m. The south will be quite sunny. The wind will be strong to storm force from the west. For snow sport participants venturing off piste, the avalanche situation will change only marginally. The avalanche situation on the southern flank of the Alps will be a little more favourable.