Luganese

Snowpack

Some of the new snow and wind slabs from the last two days are prone to triggering. This is particularly the case on north-facing slopes above approximately 2400 m, where they sometimes overlay a loose old snow surface having a faceted crystal structure.

Hardly any of the old snowpack is prone to triggering. However, in its upper area there are some layers with a faceted crystal structure around crusts. Avalanches may still be triggered in places in these layers. This is especially true on shady slopes at a fair distance from ridgelines and protected from the wind.

Gliding avalanches are still possible, primarily on east-, south- and west-facing slopes below approximately 2600 m and more rarely on north-facing slopes below approximately 2200 m. These avalanches may be large in some cases in regions with a lot of snow.

Weather forecast until Wednesday, 21.02.2024

After a mostly clear night, clouds will gather from the west and south as the day progresses.

New snow

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Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, between +4 °C in the north and 0 °C in the south.

Wind

The winds will be mostly weak, in the afternoon on the western part of the northern flank of the Alps increasingly moderate to strong, blowing from the west.

Weather review for Tuesday, 20.02.2024

Snow fell in the north during Monday night into Tuesday. The snowfall level dropped from 1500 m to 1100 m. It was sunny in the south during the day. Elsewhere it became increasingly sunny from the west.

New snow

From Monday afternoon to Tuesday morning, up to 30 cm of snow fell above approximately 1600 m in the north. This means that, above approximately 1800 m, the following amounts of snow have fallen since Monday evening:

• from the Hasli valleys via the Urner Alps to the Glarus Alps: 30 to 50 cm;
• rest of the Northern Alpine Ridge from Les Diablerets to Liechtenstein, northern Grisons, Silvretta, Samnaun: 15 to 30 cm;
• elsewhere: widely 5 to 15 cm; dry on the southern flank of the Alps.

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, between -4 °C in the north and 0 °C in the south.

Wind

There were weak to moderate westerly to northerly winds.

TrendThursday, 22.02.2024

It will be mostly cloudy. There will be intermittent precipitation, especially during Wednesday night into Thursday and again on Thursday afternoon. The snowfall level will be around 1600 m during the night, before rising to 2200 m. In the north and at high altitudes, there will be storm-force southwesterly winds in places, with strong foehn winds in the Alpine valleys in the north.

There will be a widespread slight increase in the danger of dry avalanches at high altitudes because of new snow and wind. There will be an appreciable increase in the danger in the west. In addition, more gliding avalanches are to be expected due to milder temperatures and rain.

Friday, 23.02.2024

There will be widespread snowfall during Thursday night into Friday; this will be particularly heavy on the Main Alpine Ridge from the Rheinwaldhorn to the Bernina area and to the south of this. New snow levels of 30 to 50 cm are to be expected there. At night, the snowfall level will drop rapidly to low altitudes.

The avalanche danger will widely increase, with an especially sharp rise in the regions exposed to heavier precipitation in the south. Danger level 4 (high) may be reached there during Thursday night into Friday. Gliding avalanches are still possible.