Wildhorn

The near-surface layers of the snowpack can be released in some places by people. The avalanches can reach medium size. Backcountry touring calls for careful route selection. In the course of the day wind slabs will form adjacent to ridgelines in all aspects. These are mostly small but in some cases prone to triggering. The number and size of avalanche prone locations will increase with altitude. The fresh wind slabs are to be evaluated with care and prudence in steep terrain. In particular on north facing slopes individual wet avalanches are possible below approximately 2600 m.

The fresh fallen snow will be deposited atop a predominantly moist snowpack surface. Only on steep north-facing slopes above approximately 2600 m is the surface dry and, to some extent, loosely-packed. The slab avalanches triggered by persons during the last three days which have been reported were triggered above 3000 m in dry, near-surface layers, predominantly on north-facing slopes. The old snowpack is thoroughly wet on south-facing slopes far up into high alpine regions, on west-facing and east-facing slopes it is wet below approximately 3000 m, and on north-facing slopes below approximately 2600 m.

Nocturnal skies on Thursday were clear, apart from cloudbanks in the western regions moving through. During the daytime hours on Friday it was predominantly sunny, accompanied by cloudbanks moving through from the west. Fresh snow: - Temperature: At midday at 2000 m, between +8 °C in the western regions and +5 °C in the remaining regions of Switzerland. Wind: Winds were blowing from northerly directions,

• Temperature: Temperatures are expected to drop. At midday at 2000 m: between +3 °C in the western regions and +1 °C in the remaining regions of Switzerland. Wind: Winds will be blowing from southwesterly directions, subsequently shifting to northwesterly,

On Sunday, particularly in the western regions, it will be predominantly sunny; in the eastern regions conditions will be variable, accompanied by showers. On Monday, variable conditions are anticipated in all regions, accompanied by showers in the afternoon. On Sunday, northerly winds will be blowing intermittently at moderate strength at high altitudes, otherwise at light strength; light strength winds will continue on Monday. Temperatures are expected to rise somewhat, particularly on Monday. The danger of dry-snow avalanches is not expected to change significantly, the danger of wet-snow avalanches will become increasingly subject to a slight daytime danger cycle.