Bex-Villars

Considerable avalanche danger will be encountered over a wide area.

Snowpack Fresh snow drift accumulations are prone to triggering in some cases. In addition, faceted weak layers in the snowpack remain prone to triggering in particular on west, north and east facing slopes. In Valais and on the northern flank of the Alps, these weak layers are covered by large amounts of fresh snow that has fallen in recent days. Avalanches can still be released in these faceted layers of old snow deep in the snowpack and reach a large size. In Ticino and the southern parts of Grisons, the weak layers in the old snowpack are closer to the surface and can therefore be released more easily. Observed weather review Tuesday, 14.03.2023 During the night, heavy precipitation passed over the Alps from the west and south. The snowfall level was approximately 2000 m at first and then dropped to 1400 to 1800 m by the morning. After a brief interlude, snow began to fall again from the west. In the afternoon the snowfall level gradually dropped towards 1000 m. In the south in the afternoon there were some bright spells. Fresh snow From Monday evening until Tuesday afternoon above approximately 2200 m:

• Extreme west of Lower Valais, northern Lower Valais, Lötschental, Leuk: 40 to 60 cm
• Main Alpine ridge from the Rheinwaldhorn to the Bernina Pass and to the south: 30 to 50 cm
• Elsewhere over a wide area: 15 to 30 cm

Temperature At midday at 2000 m: about 0 °C Wind

• During the night, strong at times from the south
• During the day in the north and west, strong; in the south, moderate; from the southwest

Weather forecast through Wednesday, 15.03.2023 During the night in the north and in Valais and Grisons, snow will fall even at low altitudes. In central and southern Ticino it will remain dry. During the day, a little more snow will fall in the east in particular. It will become increasingly bright from the west. In the south it will be quite sunny. Fresh snow From Tuesday evening until the Wednesday afternoon above approximately 1800 m:

• Northern Alpine ridge from the Aletsch region to Alpstein: 15 to 30 cm
• Other regions: 5 to 15 cm over a wide area, but smaller amounts or remaining dry on the southern flank of the Alps

Temperature At midday at 2000 m: about -7 °C in the north Wind In the south and generally at elevated altitudes, strong from the northwest to north, otherwise light to moderate Outlook through Friday, 17.03.2023 On each of the next days it will be mostly sunny. The wind will be moderate from the west on Thursday and become increasingly foehn-like on Friday. On Thursday the zero degree level will rise to 2200 m in the east and 2800 m in the west. On Friday it will be approximately 3000 m. The danger of dry avalanches will decrease, but only slowly on north facing slopes at high altitudes and in the high Alpine regions. Under the influence of solar radiation and warming, wet snow avalanches are to be expected on sunny slopes.

Large quantities of fresh snow and the wind-drifted snow are prone to triggering. Even single snow sport participants can release avalanches. Natural dry avalanches are possible in isolated cases. In some places avalanches can also be triggered in deep layers. These avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular on steep north facing slopes and in areas where the snow cover is rather shallow. Avalanches can reach large size. Backcountry touring calls for experience in the assessment of avalanche danger and caution.

On very steep sunny slopes medium-sized and, in isolated cases, large wet and gliding avalanches are to be expected as a consequence of solar radiation.