Bex-Villars

The danger of wet avalanches will already be elevated in the early morning.

Outgoing longwave radiation during the night will be barely evident. Already in the early morning individual wet and gliding avalanches are possible. In the late morning as a consequence of warming during the day and solar radiation there will be a rapid increase in the danger to level 3 (considerable). Numerous wet and gliding avalanches are to be expected. These can in some cases release the entire snowpack and reach very large size in isolated cases on north facing slopes. This applies in particular below approximately 3000 m. In the typical avalanche paths avalanches can reach areas without any snow cover.

Avalanche prone locations for dry avalanches are to be found in particular on steep northwest, north and northeast facing slopes above approximately 3000 m. In some places avalanches can be released in near-surface layers. The avalanches are rather small. Careful route selection is recommended.

Snowpack The snow cover on north-facing slopes is thoroughly wet up as far as approximately 2500 m, in the other aspects the snow cover is thoroughly wet up to over 3000 m. In the southern Valais and in Grisons, more than anywhere else, as well was from place to place in the other regions of Switzerland, there are still weak layers deeply embedded inside the snow cover. On north-facing slopes between approximately 2500 and 3000 m, these weakened layers are gradually becoming wet for the first time this season and thereby, weakened further. During the night of overcast skies, the snowpack surface was able to cool only to a limited extent. Thereby, the danger of wet-snow avalanches is heightened already during the morning hours and subsequently increases swiftly as a result of solar radiation and higher daytime temperatures. Naturally triggered avalanches can be expected. On north-facing slopes above approximately 2400 m more than anywhere else, avalanches can in some places sweep away the entire snow cover and thereby grow to large size. Observed weather review Friday, 05.05.2023 On Thursday night, skies were partly overcast and the outgoing longwave radiation was somewhat reduced. During the morning hours on Friday, it was quite sunny. Over the course of the day there was increasing convective cloud build-up, as well as showers from place to place. The snowfall level lay at 2800 m. Fresh snow There was a few centimetres of fresh snow registered from place to place in the form of showers above approximately 2800 m. Temperature At midday at 2000 m, +11 °C. Wind Winds were blowing predominantly at light strength. Weather forecast through Saturday, 06.05.2023 Skies during Friday night are expected to be heavily overcast. During the daytime on Saturday, it will temporarily be quite sunny following the dispersal of residual clouds. During the course of the day, convective cloud build-up is anticipated. Local showers are possible. Fresh snow Above approximately 2800 m, a few centimetres of fresh snow can be expected from place to place, falling in the form of showers. Temperature At midday at 2000 m, +10 °C. Wind Winds will be from westerly directions,

• during the nocturnal hours blowing intermittently at moderate strength in the Prealps and at heightened altitudes in general;
• in the other regions of Switzerland, blowing predominantly at light strength.

Outlook through Monday, 08.05.2023 Sunday Nighttime skies on Saturday will be overcast. During the daytime hours on Sunday, isolated bright intervals are anticipated. Otherwise, skies are expected to be predominantly overcast accompanied by showers and thunderstorms. The snowfall level will lie at 2700 m. Winds will be blowing at light strength from westerly directions. As a consequence of the inadequate nocturnal outgoing longwave radiation and higher daytime temperatures, the danger of wet-snow avalanches is heightened already in the morning hours. These danger levels can increase further during the course of the day as a result of solar radiation and/or intensive rain showers. Monday Nighttime skies on Sunday will be predominantly overcast and above approximately 2400 m, snowfall is anticipated with the focal point in the northern regions. During the daytime hours on Monday, it will be partly sunny, particularly in the western and in the southern regions. Winds will shift to northerly and be blowing at moderate to strong velocity in some places at elevated altitudes. The danger of dry-snow avalanches can increase, particularly in the high alpine regions of the northern Alpine Ridge, as a consequence of fresh snowfall. In the remaining regions of Switzerland, an increase in avalanche danger levels is unlikely. The danger of wet-snow avalanches is expected to increase as a consequence of solar radiation and higher daytime temperatures.