Sarganserland

Snowpack

There is appreciably less snow than usual at this time of year in most regions and snow conditions for ski touring are very poor in many places, especially below 2000 m and generally in the east.

Snowpack structure is variable from region to region:

• On the Main Alpine Ridge in Valais and on the central southern flank of the Alps, last week’s fresh and drifted snow has been deposited on a thin but weak old snowpack of faceted crystals. A few avalanches, some large, have been triggered by human activity over the last few days. Isolated avalanches may still be triggered in the old snowpack in these regions.
• In central Valais, northern Upper Valais and throughout Grisons, weak layers of faceted crystals or surface hoar are present in the snowpack on shady slopes above approximately 2400 m. However, avalanches have only rarely been triggered in these layers. Smaller snowdrift accumulations from the last few days are still sometimes prone to triggering. On wind-protected shady slopes, the surface of the snowpack is faceted and loose.
• Snowpack structure is more favourable in the westernmost and northern parts of Lower Valais and on the northern flank of the Alps. Small snowdrift accumulations have formed locally. Below 2400 m, the snowpack has mostly frozen solid.

Weather forecast to Tuesday

In central and eastern Switzerland, the low stratus cloud will advance down into the Alpine valleys. It will be sunny above 1500 to 1800 m and in the west and south.

Fresh snow

-

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, between -8 °C in the east, -2 °C in the west and +1 °C in the south.

Wind

Often moderate, increasingly strong from the north on the Main Alpine Ridge and to the south of there

Weather review for Monday

After a clear night, conditions were sunny and very mild in the mountains.

Fresh snow

-

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, around +6 °C

Wind

Light to moderate south to southwesterly

Outlook to Thursday

It will be sunny in the mountains on both days. On Wednesday, there will still be moderate northerly winds at times, with southwesterly winds developing on Thursday.

There will be hardly any change in avalanche risk.