Grimselpass

A generally favourable avalanche situation will prevail.

On very steep sunny slopes small to medium-sized wet avalanches are possible as a consequence of warming during the day. Backcountry tours should be concluded timely.

Snowpack With the exception of the northern and furthermost western parts of the Lower Valais, the snow cover contains expansively metamorphosed (faceted) and loosely-packed layers over widespread areas. On the northern flank of the Alps these layers are often located in the uppermost part of the snow cover; in the southern Valais and in Grisons, the entire snowpack is frequently expansively metamorphosed and loose. The frequency of avalanche prone locations tends to be continually on the decrease, however in isolated cases dry-snow slab avalanches can still be triggered. This applies to some places on slopes which have already been amply tracked by backcountry tourers. As a consequence of solar radiation and rising daytime temperatures, wet-snow avalanches are possible on very steep south-facing slopes during the course of the day. In regions where the old snowpack is weak, i.e. where there is a persistent weak layer, wet-snow slab avalanches can be triggered even by persons in isolated cases. Observed weather review Thursday, 16.02.2023 Following a night of predominantly clear skies it was sunny in the mountains during the daytime hours. Fresh snow - Temperature At midday at 2000 m, approximately +3 °C. Wind Winds were blowing at light strength, at moderate velocity in some places in the western and the northern regions, from southwesterly directions. Weather forecast through Friday, 17.02.2023 Nocturnal skies are expected to be frequently overcast in the northern regions more than anywhere else, in the other regions of Switzerland skies will be predominantly clear. Also during the daytime hours, skies will be predominantly overcast in the northern regions and a small amount of snowfall is anticipated. In the Valais and in the southern regions it will be quite sunny. Fresh snow - Temperature At midday at 2000 m, between approximately +2 °C in the western and the southern regions and 0 °C in the eastern regions. Wind Winds will be westerly to northwesterly,

• blowing at moderate velocity at high altitudes, at strong velocity in some places in the eastern regions;
• blowing predominantly at light to moderate strength in the remaining regions of Switzerland.

Outlook through Sunday, 19.02.2023 On Saturday, following a night of clear skies, it is expected to be predominantly sunny in the mountains. On Saturday night skies will be mostly clear. During the daytime hours on Sunday it will again be predominantly sunny in the southern and the inneralpine regions, in the northern regions skies will be partly overcast and a bit of snowfall is possible. The zero-degree level on Saturday will lie at approximately 3000 m, on Sunday the zero-degree level will descend to nearly 2000 m during the course of the day. At elevated altitudes, a strong-velocity northwesterly wind will be blowing. The danger of dry-snow avalanches is not expected to change significantly. Particularly on Saturday, the danger of wet-snow avalanches will increase during the course of the day.