Pays d'Enhaut

Snowpack

Thursday's fresh snowfall and strong northerly winds have resulted in snowdrift accumulations that are prone to triggering in the high Alpine regions. The largest of these are situated along the northern Alpine ridge from the Bernese Oberland to the Glarus Alps and in northern Grisons.

Conditions in the high Alpine regions were already wintry before. At altitudes of below 3000 m, the fresh snow that has fallen in the last few weeks is lying on water-saturated, settled old snowpack. On north-facing slopes above around 3000 m and on other exposures above around 3500 m, the fresh snow that fell over the last week is lying on snowpack that is often still dry. Last week, ski tourers triggered several large avalanches in the high Alpine regions. This indicates that distinct weak layers were present in places in the dry old snowpack and these are likely to remain prone to triggering.

As temperatures rise in the sunshine, the snowpack will become increasingly moist even in the high Alpine regions. As the most recent snow layers start to moisten for the first time in the high Alpine regions, there will be an increased likelihood of avalanches being triggered over the course of the day. Naturally triggered wet avalanches, some of which may carry carry along the entire snowpack with them, are also to be expected as the day progresses.

OutlookSaturday and Sunday

The night to Saturday will be mostly clear. The night to Sunday will be partly cloudy and there may be some precipitation in the north. Conditions will be mostly sunny during the day on Saturday and partly sunny on Sunday. Cumulus clouds will form over the mountains and there is a possibility of isolated showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. The zero-degree level will be around 3800 m. Winds will be light.

The risk of dry avalanches will slowly decrease in the high Alpine regions. The risk of natural wet avalanches will increase over the course of each day. Ski touring should be started early and finished in good time.