Pays d'Enhaut

As a consequence of new snow and wind a considerable avalanche danger will be encountered over a wide area.

The more recent wind slabs are in some cases prone to triggering. Avalanches can be released by a single winter sport participant and reach medium size. Additionally in some places avalanches can be triggered in the old snowpack and reach large size. Such avalanche prone locations are rather rare but are barely recognisable, even to the trained eye. Backcountry touring calls for experience in the assessment of avalanche danger and careful route selection.

As a consequence of falling temperatures, the activity of wet avalanches will slowly decrease. The avalanche prone locations for wet avalanches are to be found in particular on steep east, south and west facing slopes below approximately 2400 m and on north facing slopes below approximately 2200 m. Individual medium-sized to large wet and gliding avalanches are possible.

Snowpack Fresh fallen snow and freshly generated snowdrift accumulations from the last two days are still prone to triggering in some places. As a result of fresh snow and strong-velocity westerly winds, additional snowdrift accumulations will be generated which are prone to triggering. These accumulations will be most massive in the Valais and on the northern flank of the Alps. Deeply embedded inside the snow cover, particularly on west-facing, north-facing and east-facing slopes, there are expansively metamorphosed (faceted) layers evident over widespread areas. Avalanches can be triggered in these layers and in some places sweep away the entire snow cover with their release. As a consequence of the fresh fallen snow, increasingly frequent avalanches can once again be expected to trigger from these weak layers. The old snow cover on south-facing slopes is thoroughly wet up to over 3000 m. On west-facing slopes it is thoroughly wet up to nearly 3000 m, on east-facing slopes up to nearly 2600 m, and on north-facing slopes up to nearly 1800 m. As a consequence of descending temperatures, the wet layers of snow are freezing slowly and stabilizing incrementally. Observed weather review Saturday, 25.03.2023 In the northern regions there was intermittent snowfall registered. The snowfall level descended from 2000 m down to approximately 1300m. In the Ticino and in southern Grisons it was quite sunny, following a night of clear skies. Fresh snow Between Friday evening and Saturday afternoon, the following amounts of fresh snow were registered above approximately 2200 m:

• northern and furthermost western parts of the Valais: 15 to 30 cm;
• remaining parts of the northern flank of the Alps, remaining parts of the Valais, Bedrettotal, northern Grisons: 5 to 15 cm;
• remaining regions of Switzerland: only a few centimetres, in the furthermost southern regions it remained dry.

Thus, between Thursday evening and Saturday afternoon the following amounts of fresh snow were registered above approximately 2800 m:

• northern and furthermost western parts of the Valais: 20 to 40 cm; as much as 50 cm from place to place;
• remaining parts of the Valais, remaining parts of northern Alpine Ridge, northern Grisons: 10 to 20 cm;
• in the remaining regions of Switzerland, less.

Temperature At midday at 2000 m, between -3 °C in the northern regions and +3 °C in the southern regions. Wind Winds in the northern regions and in the Valais were blowing at moderate to strong velocity, in the other regions of Switzerland blowing at light to moderate strength from westerly directions. Weather forecast through Sunday, 26.03.2023 Following a brief interlude on Saturday night, snowfall will again set in from the west on Sunday. During the daytime hours, snowfall is anticipated over widespread areas, with the focal point in the western and the northern regions. The snowfall level will lie at 1600 m in the western regions during the morning; in the eastern and the southern regions at 1400 m. During the course of the day the snowfall level will descend in all regions of Switzerland down to approximately 1200 m. Fresh snow Between Saturday eveniang and Sunday afternoon, the following amounts of fresh snow are anticipated above 1800 m:

• furthermost western part of the Lower Valais: 15 to 30 cm;
• western part of Jura region, northern flank of the Alps, remaining parts of the Valais, Gotthard region, Prättigau, Silvretta, Samnaun: 5 to 15 cm;
• remaining regions of Switzerland: only a few centimetres; in the furthermost southern regions it will remain dry.

Temperature At midday at 2000 m, -2 °C. Wind Winds in the northern regions and in general at elevated altitudes will be blowing at strong velocity from westerly directions. Outlook through Tuesday, 28.03.2023 Monday On Sunday night, snowfall is anticipated over widespread areas. The snowfall is expected to be particularly intensive on the northern flank of the Alps and in the Lower Valais. The snowfall level will descend down to low lying areas. During the daytime hours on Monday the snowfall will continue, only in the southern regions are more extended bright intervals expected. In the remaining regions of Switzerland, 15 to 30 cm of fresh snow is anticipated over far-reaching areas, less in the southern regions. Winds will shift to northwesterly and be blowing predominantly at strong velocity. The danger of dry-snow avalanches is expected to increase over widespread areas. On the northern Alpine Ridge and in the Lower Valais, Danger Level 4 (high) will be reached over widespread areas on Sunday night. Also in the remaining regions of Switzerland, conditions in backcountry terrain away from the secured ski runs will remain critical for winter sports enthusiasts. Wet-snow avalanches are no longer to be expected due to the lower temperatures. Tuesday On Monday night in the northern regions and the eastern regions, an additional 10 cm of fresh snow is anticipated. In early morning on Tuesday in the eastern regions, there will still be residual clouds. In the other regions of Switzerland it is expected to be predominantly sunny. Winds at high altitudes will slacken off but still be blowing at moderate strength from northwesterly directions. The danger of dry-snow avalanches will incrementally decrease. The conditions for winter sports enthusiasts away from secured ski runs will remain critical. In addition, as a consequence of solar radiation, numerous moist loose-snow avalanches can be expected to trigger from the fresh fallen snow.