Bex-Villars

Considerable avalanche danger will be encountered in some regions. Wind slabs require caution

Considerable avalanche danger will be encountered in some regions. Wind slabs require caution

The new snow and wind slabs of Wednesday are prone to triggering at elevated altitudes. Single winter sport participants can release avalanches. Mostly these are medium-sized. Backcountry touring and other off-piste activities call for experience in the assessment of avalanche danger.

New snow and freshly generated snowdrifts from the last couple of days were deposited on top of an old snowpack surface which shows striking effects of rain, wind and sun, in some places is also iced-over. On Wednesday the snowdrift accumulations were easily triggered in some places. In addition, from the central Valais over the northern Ticino as far as Grisons more than anywhere else, avalanches can also trigger from the old snowpack in isolated cases. This applies to the expansively metamorphosed (faceted), loose layers which are located either immediately beneath the rain-crust which formed at the end of December or are found more deeply embedded inside the snowpack.

Skies were predominantly overcast, accompanied by precipitation. In the northern regions temperatures dropped significantly, and with this the snowfall level descended from 2000 m down to low lying areas. During the course of the day the precipitation slackened off; there were sunny intervals in the Jura and southern regions more than anywhere else. Fresh snow: Between Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday afternoon, the following amounts of fresh snow were registered above approximately 2000 m, and in the Jura region above approximately 1400 m: - northern flank of the Alps, northern and furthermost western regions of Lower Valais, Grisons, western part of Jura region: 15 to 30 cm; - in the other regions of Switzerland, 5 to 15 cm over widespread areas. Temperature: At midday at 2000 m, between -10 °C in the northern regions and -4 °C in the southern regions. Wind: - Winds during the nighttime hours were westerly to southwesterly, frequently blowing at strong velocity; - during the daytime in some places on the Main Alpine Ridge and in the southern regions, blowing frequently at strong velocity, otherwise at light to moderate strength. In the northern regions skies will be predominantly overcast and a small amount of snowfall down to low lying areas is expected in the eastern regions more than anywhere else. During the afternoon in the western regions, bright intervals are anticipated. In the Valais and in the southern regions it will be predominantly sunny all day long. Fresh snow: In the central and eastern sectors of the northern flank of the Alps as well as in northern Grisons: up to 5 cm. Temperature: At midday at 2000 m, over widespread areas -11 °C, in the southern regions -7 °C. Wind: Winds will be northerly to northeasterly, - during the nocturnal hours blowing at moderate to strong velocity at high altitudes, on the Main Alpine Ridge and southwards therefrom blowing at strong to storm strength; - blowing at moderate strength during the daytime and in the southern regions at high altitudes.

Friday: Following a night of partially clear skies, it will become overcast from the west. It will be quite sunny in the eastern regions in early morning hours, and in the southern regions until afternoon. During the afternoon in the western and the northern regions, a few centimetres of snowfall is expected to fall down to low lying areas. The westerly to northwesterly winds will intensify during the course of the day, and will be blowing at moderate strength in the afternoon, and at strong velocity at high altitudes. Avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly. Saturday: During the night, a small amount of fresh snow is anticipated to fall down to low lying altitudes over widespread areas. In the northern regions, approximately 10 to 15 cm of fresh snow will presumably be registered, but the amounts are still uncertain. During the daytime there will be sunny intervals, and another round of snowfall is expected in the afternoon. In the southern regions it is expected to be sunny. The westerly-to-northwesterly wind will increase in strength and be blowing at strong to storm strength at high altitudes during the afternoon. Avalanche danger is expected to increase in the western and the northern regions. In the southern regions and in Grisons, avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly.