Val d'Entremont-Val Ferret

Snowpack

Recent snowdrift accumulations on the Main Alpine Ridge and to the north of there are becoming increasingly stable. On the northern flank of the Alps, snowpack structure is otherwise quite favourable. The fresh snow that has fallen in the south over the last few days is lying on a quite favourable old snow surface, but there are weak layers in the middle of the snowpack. The increased load from the fresh snow means that these layers may fracture. In the inneralpine regions of Valais and Grisons, there are weak layers in the snowpack, especially on shady slopes. However, only few avalanches have been triggered.

Southern slopes are water-saturated up into the high Alpine regions as are western slopes below approximately 2200 m. The snowpack on northern and eastern slopes is only superficially moistened. Despite falling temperatures, it is gliding avalanches that are still the most likely, but higher daytime temperatures and sunshine mean that there is also a possibility of isolated wet snow avalanches.

Weather forecast to Monday

In the north, there will be variable cloud cover with isolated showers, especially as the day progresses. In the south, conditions will remain overcast with any remaining snowfall above around 1600 m. There will be brighter spells over the course of the day.

Fresh snow

A few centimetres may fall locally

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, around 0 °C

Wind

Mainly light.

Weather review for Sunday

The night was mainly overcast and snow fell above approximately 1400 m in the south, where it remained overcast with light snowfall during the day. In the north, conditions were cloudy with bright intervals and mainly dry.

Fresh snow

From Saturday afternoon to Sunday afternoon, the following amounts fell above approximately 1800 m:

• Simplon area, southern Goms, central part of the southern flank of the Alps, Val Bregaglia, Bernina region, Val Poschiavo and Val Müstair: 15 to 30 cm, and as much as 40 cm in Bedretto and Valle Maggia
• around 5 cm on the rest of the Main Alpine Ridge, otherwise a few centimetres or dry

The following amounts have thus fallen above approximately 1800 m since Friday evening:

• Simplon region, Bedretto, Valle Maggia: 30 to 50 cm
• remainder of the main Alpine ridge from Arolla to Val Müstair and the remaining southern flank of the Alps: 15 to 30 cm
• further north mainly only a few centimetres

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m between +2 °C and 0 °C in the north and around -2 °C in the south

Wind

• Sometimes strong from the south overnight, especially on the northern Alpine ridge
• Mainly light to moderate from southerly directions during the day

OutlookTuesday

There will be broken cloud in the north and a little snow may fall in the northeast. Conditions will be fairly sunny in Valais and mostly sunny in the south. Temperatures will remain pretty low with light winds. The risk of dry avalanches will slowly decrease. As a result of the sunshine, numerous moist loose snow avalanches are expected, especially in regions with fresh snow in the south. Gliding avalanches remain possible in all regions.

Wednesday

There will be heavy cloud cover in the north with a little snowfall. There will be a slight increase in the risk of dry avalanches. There will be sunny spells in Valais and the south. On the southern flank of the Alps, a foehn wind from the north will develop over the course of the day. Freshly drifted snow will somewhat increase the risk of dry avalanches. There will be no significant change in the risk of wet and gliding avalanches.