Pays d'Enhaut

Snowpack

In the high-altitude regions exposed to heavier precipitation, new snow and at times strong southerly winds are leading to the formation of large wind slabs that are prone to triggering. Especially on very steep northern slopes in the high Alpine regions, these are being deposited on surfaces that are still loose in places. The interface with the old snowpack is rather unfavourable there. For other aspects and altitudes, the old snow surfaces are for the most part favourable in terms of the interface with the new snow. Hardly any fractures deeper in the snowpack are to be expected.

Below approximately 3000 m, the snowpack is soaked for all aspects. Gliding avalanches are still possible there, especially in light of the heavy rain in the south.

Above approximately 2000 m, there is still around one and a half times the usual amount of snow for the time of year.

Weather forecast until Wednesday, 15.05.2024

Precipitation will fall on the central part of the Main Alpine Ridge and south of this; this will be particularly heavy on the central part of the southern flank of the Alps. In the other regions, it will be cloudy with some precipitation. The snowfall level will be around 2300 m in the south and around 2500 m in the north.

New snow

From Tuesday evening until Wednesday evening, the following amounts of fresh snow are expected above approximately 2800 m:

• Main Alpine Ridge from the Matterhorn to the Bernina region and south of this: 40 to 60 cm; on the highest peaks of Ticino: up to 80 cm;
• rest of the Main Alpine Ridge in Valais, Aletsch region, rest of Upper Engadine south of the Inn: 20 to 40 cm;
• elsewhere: a few centimetres of snow; it will remain dry in the northeast.

Temperature

The zero-degree level will drop; in the middle of the day, it will be 2900 m in the north and 2600 m in the south.

Wind

In the high Alpine regions, there will be mostly strong southerly winds.

Weather review for Tuesday, 14.05.2024

It was fairly sunny in the north, but often cloudy along the Main Alpine Ridge and south of this. Above approximately 2500 m, a few flakes of snow fell in some regions.

New snow

-

Temperature

The zero-degree level was between approximately 3400 m in the north and 2900 m in the south.

Wind

There were mostly light southerly winds.

Trend until Friday, 17.05.2024Thursday

On Thursday, another 20 cm of snow will fall on the Main Alpine Ridge, and up to 40 cm on the central part of the southern flank of the Alps. In the other regions, it will be often cloudy with intermittent snowfall. The snowfall level will be around 2300 m. At high altitudes, strong southerly winds will blow, especially in the south and east.

The avalanche situation at high altitudes will remain critical on the Main Alpine Ridge and south of this. The danger of dry avalanches may also increase somewhat in the other regions. Gliding avalanches are still possible, especially in the south in light of the heavy precipitation.

Friday

The forecast remains highly uncertain. There will likely be variable cloud cover with showers. The wind direction will shift to the west.

The avalanche danger is likely to decrease in the south and to increase slightly in all the other regions.