Wet snow
- All elevations
Snowpack
In the early morning, on steep south-facing slopes there is often a supporting crust, while west and east-facing slopes have a brittle melt-freeze crust. On north-facing slopes, there is often loose, faceted snow on the surface. This may be transported in some localities by the rising foehn wind.
In the north, weak layers near the surface are very occasionally still prone to triggering, most likely on shady slopes that are protected from the wind. Otherwise, the snowpack is mostly well consolidated in these regions.
In southern Valais, Ticino and Grisons, there are faceted, soft layers deeper in the snowpack. The snow layering in these regions is more unfavourable and avalanches can also very occasionally be triggered in deep layers of the snowpack.
As the day progresses, individual wet and gliding avalanches are possible.
Weather forecast to Thursday
Conditions will be sunny in the mountains.
Fresh snow
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Temperature
At midday at 2000 m, between +3 °C in the north and -1 °C in the south.
Wind
Weather review for Wednesday
Conditions were sunny in the mountains.
Fresh snow
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Temperature
At midday at 2000 m, between +4 °C in the north and +2 °C in the south.
Wind
Outlook
On Friday and Saturday it will be sunny in the mountains and still mild in the north. There will be moderate foehn winds in the north throughout this whole period, and strong foehn winds in some localities during the night into Friday.
In the regions that are exposed to the foehn wind in the north, small wind slabs will form locally on shady slopes. Apart from this, the avalanche situation remains favourable over a wide area. Individual wet and gliding avalanches will still be possible.
Bulletin data: WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF (CC BY 4.0)