untere Maggiatäler

A mostly overcast night: Rapid increase in danger of wet avalanches in the course of the day

A mostly overcast night: Rapid increase in danger of wet avalanches in the course of the day

Only a little snow is lying. Individual avalanche prone locations for dry avalanches are to be found in particular on very steep north facing slopes above approximately 2200 m. Apart from the danger of being buried, restraint should be exercised in particular in view of the danger of avalanches sweeping people along and giving rise to falls. In particular on north facing slopes gliding avalanches and moist snow slides are possible. Caution is to be exercised in areas with glide cracks. The danger will already exist in the early morning.

In some places a weak layer is to be found above the crust containing Saharan dust. In recent days, numerous avalanche releases – many of them triggered by people – have been reported in this layer, in particular in Valais and on the northern Alpine ridge. There have not been any reports of fractures occurring in even deeper layers of the snowpack. As a consequence of the high temperatures and strong solar radiation, the snowpack is becoming increasingly moist. The snowpack is thoroughly moist up to the high Alpine regions on south facing slopes, below approximately 2800 m on west and east facing slopes, and below approximately 2000 m on north facing slopes.

Monday night was quite clear, apart from some passing cloudbanks. During the day it was fairly sunny. Fresh snow: - Temperature: At midday at 2000 m: between +10 °C in the north and +5 °C in the south Wind: - Light to moderate from the southwest - In the northern Alpine valleys, a moderate foehn wind at times Tuesday night will be frequently cloudy and the outgoing longwave radiation will be reduced. During the day it will be partly sunny, except for passing cloudbanks and haze caused by Saharan dust. Fresh snow: - Temperature: At midday at 2000 m: between +8 °C in the north and +5 °C in the south Wind: Light to moderate, backing from southerly to easterly

After a quite clear night, Thursday will be fairly sunny. In the afternoon there will be a few showers in the north, but these will cease during Thursday night. On Thursday night the skies will therefore be only partly clear. Friday will be quite sunny. The danger of dry avalanches will continue to decrease. On each of the coming days, as the day progresses wet snow avalanches and, in particular on the northern Alpine ridge, gliding avalanches as well are to be expected. Backcountry touring and ascents to refuges are to be commenced early and concluded timely.