Obersaxen - Safiental

In the east a considerable avalanche danger will be encountered over a wide area.

The wind slabs of the last few days are lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack. Avalanches can be released easily, but they will be small in most cases. Backcountry touring and other off-piste activities call for careful route selection. Wind slabs in steep terrain are to be bypassed as far as possible.

Snowpack Fresh fallen snow and snowdrifts from the last few days, as well as the snowdrifts which were generated from the fresh snow, frequently lie deposited on top of a weakened old snowpack surface. Prior to the snowfall, the old snowpack surface was expansively metamorphosed (faceted) and loosely-packed in wind-protected, distant-from-ridgeline terrain more than anywhere else. Avalanches generally fracture in transition zones between the fresh snow and snowdrifts and the old snowpack. Particularly from southern Valais over the Gotthard region as far as the Grisons, the entire old snowpack was frequently expansively metamorphosed (faceted). In these regions, avalanches can sweep away the entire snowpack as a whole. In the northern and furthermost western parts of the Lower Valais, the snow cover layering is most favourable and there are hardly any pronounced weak layers evident. Observed weather review Sunday, 05.02.2023 Following a night of predominantly clear skies it was still quite sunny in the western and the southern regions during the morning hours. In the remaining regions of Switzerland, skies became increasingly overcast. Subsequently in the northern regions, light snowfall set in during the afternoon, extending down to low lying areas. Fresh snow On the northern flank of the Alps, only a few centimetres from place to place. Temperature At midday, approximately -3 °C in the western regions, 0 °C in the southern regions, and -6 °C in the eastern regions. Wind Winds were northerly,

• blowing at moderate to strong velocity on the Main Alpine Ridge;
• blowing at light to moderate strength in the other regions of Switzerland.

Weather forecast through Monday, 06.02.2023 In the early part of the night in the northern regions in particular, snowfall is anticipated, extending down to low lying areas. During the daytime hours it is expected to be quite sunny in the mountains. Fresh snow Between Sunday afternoon and Monday morning, the following amounts of fresh snow are expected above 1200 m:

• northern flank of the Alps: 5 to 15 cm;
• in the remaining regions of Switzerland only a few centimetres; in the Ticino and the Engadine it is expected to remain dry.

Temperature At midday at 2000 m, between -4 °C in the western and the southern regions and -8 °C in the eastern regions. Wind

• Winds will be northeasterly, blowing at moderate strength;
• in the Jura region and in the western Prealps, a moderate-to-strong velocity bise wind will be blowing.

Outlook through Wednesday, 08.02.2023 On Tuesday and on Wednesday, it will be predominantly sunny. On Tuesday a temporarily strong-velocity southerly wind will be blowing. On Wednesday winds will be predominantly light. Temperatures are expected to remain relatively low. Avalanche danger levels will incrementally decrease, but in the eastern regions, backcountry terrain will remain treacherous for winter sports enthusiasts away from the secured ski pistes.