Pays d'Enhaut

Increase in avalanche danger as a consequence of new snow and wind.

As a consequence of new snow and westerly wind, wind slabs formed. These are mostly small but in some cases prone to triggering. Additionally in very isolated cases avalanches can also be released in the old snowpack. This applies especially on very steep north facing slopes above approximately 2200 m. Apart from the danger of being buried, restraint should be exercised as well in view of the danger of avalanches sweeping people along and giving rise to falls.

On very steep slopes individual medium-sized gliding avalanches are possible at intermediate and high altitudes.

Snowpack As a consequence of fresh fallen snow and moderate to strong-velocity winds, snowdrift accumulations will be generated at high altitudes on the northern flank of the Alps as well as in northern Grisons. Over widespread areas these snowdrift accumulations will be deposited on top of a rough-hewn and therefore, more favourable snowpack surface. Only on wind-protected high altitude shady slopes is the snowpack surface still expansively metamorphosed (faceted) and as a result, less favourable. More deeply embedded inside the snow cover on west-facing, north-facing and east-facing slopes there are expansively metamorphosed (faceted) and loose layers evident over widespread areas. On the northern flank of the Alps, these layers are often located in the uppermost part of the snowpack; in the southern Valais and in Grisons, in some places the entire snowpack is expansively metamorphosed (faceted) and loose. The snow cover on south-facing slopes is thoroughly wet extending as high up as high alpine regions; on north-facing slopes the snowpack is superficially moist up to elevated altitudes of approximately 2000 m. As a result of the dropping temperatures the snowpack at heightened altitudes will tend to freeze. Snow depths lie noticeably below average amounts. As recorded at the measurement stations located on flat fields at heightened altitudes they amount to only one-third to two-thirds of the otherwise average values. Observed weather review Friday, 24.02.2023 Following a night of partially clear skies it was intermittently sunny in the northern regions during the daytime hours. In the southern regions skies were overcast. Above 1500 m there was a small amount of snowfall registered. Fresh snow At elevated altitudes in the Bernese Oberland, in the Valais, as well as on the southern flank of the Alps, there was a few centimetres of fresh snow registered. Temperature At midday at 2000 m, 0 °C. Wind Winds were blowing at light strength to start with, during the course of the day winds were blowing increasingly at moderate velocity from southwesterly directions. Weather forecast through Saturday, 25.02.2023 During Friday night in the northern regions, precipitation is anticipated over widespread areas in the northern regions. The snowfall level is expected to descend from 1500 m down to 700 m by Saturday morning. On Saturday in the northern flank of the Alps and in northern Grisons, skies will be heavily overcast and a small amount of intermittent snowfall is anticipated. In the Valais and in the southern regions it will be quite sunny and remain dry. Fresh snow Between Friday afternoon and Saturday afternoon, the following amounts of fresh snow are expected above 1800 m:

• northern flank of the Alps east of the Reuss: 20 to 40 cm;
• northern flank of the Alps west of the Reuss, northern part of Lower Engadine: 5 to 15 cm;
• in the remaining regions of Switzerland, less; or else it will remain dry.

Temperature Temperatures are expected to drop, at midday at 2000 m in the northern regions to -4 °C, and in the southern regions to -1 °C. Wind Winds will be blowing at moderate strength, in some places at strong velocity during the night, from westerly directions. Outlook through Monday, 27.02.2023 On Sunday in the northern regions skies will be heavily overcast for the most part and it will be cold, accompanied by moderate to strong-velocity northeasterly winds. A small amount of intermittent snowfall extending down to low lying areas is possible. In the southern regions it will be quite sunny. On Monday it will be variably cloudy and cold, but it is expected to remain dry. The northeasterly winds will incrementally slacken off. Avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly.