obere Maggiatäler

As the day progresses a considerable danger of wet avalanches will be encountered over a wide area

As the day progresses a considerable danger of wet avalanches will be encountered over a wide area

Only a little snow is lying. Individual avalanche prone locations for dry avalanches are to be found in particular on extremely steep slopes at high altitude. Apart from the danger of being buried, restraint should be exercised as well in view of the danger of avalanches sweeping people along and giving rise to falls. Only a little snow is lying. On very steep slopes individual gliding avalanches and wet snow slides are possible. Caution is to be exercised in areas with glide cracks.

The snowpack on south-facing slopes below 2500 to 2800 m, and on east-facing and west-facing slopes below 2000 to 2300 m, is thoroughly wet. On north-facing slopes the wetness to this degree starts below 1500 to 1800 m. In the northern regions where snowfall has been heavier than elsewhere, numerous glide cracks have opened in the snowpack surface. Gliding avalanches are growing to large size in some cases. More deeply embedded inside the snowpack, more than anywhere else in the southern Valais as well as in the inneralpine and the southern regions of Grisons, there are pronounced weak layers evident. However, since the end of February until the middle of March, no further fractures have been recorded as triggering in these layers. Currently, as a consequence of the beginning moistening of the snowpack, fractures in these weak layers have again become possible, as initial triggerings have already demonstrated.

Nocturnal skies on Thursday night were overcast. In the eastern regions there was a small amount of precipitation, the snowfall level lay at 1500 to 1800 m. During the daytime hours on Friday skies were heavily overcast for the most part and the atmosphere was extremely hazy. It was rather sunny only in the Valais. Fresh snow: - Temperature: At midday, between +5 °C in the Valais and +1 °C in the remaining regions of Switzerland. Wind: Winds were northeasterly. - A moderate to strong velocity bise wind was blowing in the Jura region and in the Prealps; - in the remaining regions of Switzerland, winds were blowing at light to moderate strength. On Friday night, skies are expected to be overcast. On the southern flank of the Alps a small amount of precipitation is anticipated. During the morning hours on Saturday, skies will rapidly brighten up from the northeast. Subsequently it will probably become predominantly sunny in the eastern regions, and at least partly sunny in the western and the southern regions. Fresh snow: The snowfall level is expected to descend from 1200 down to 800 m. A small amount of snowfall is anticipated: - in the central sector of the southern flank of the Alps: 5 to 10 cm; - in the remaining parts of the Main Alpine Ridge, less; in the other regions of Switzerland it is expected to remain generally dry. Temperature: At midday at 2000 m, between 0 °C in the northern regions and -3 °C in the southern regions. Wind: Winds will be predominantly light, blowing at intermittently moderate strength in the eastern regions, from the northeast, subsequently shifting to southwesterly directions.

Sunday: Following a night of predominantly heavily overcast skies, accompanied by a small amount of precipitation in the western regions, on Sunday it will be rather sunny in the eastern regions, in the other regions of Switzerland only partly sunny. Temperatures will drop somewhat. Due to severely reduced outgoing longwave radiation during the nighttime hours, wet-snow avalanches can be expected as early as the morning hours. Monday: On Sunday night, skies are expected to clear from the northeast and during the daytime on Monday it will be predominantly sunny. A pronounced daytime cycle of avalanche danger can be expected.