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Snowpack

In the north, the snowpack is quite favourable.

In southern Valais and Grisons, the old snowpack is faceted and is prone to triggering in places. Especially in the Monte Rosa region, on the eastern part of the main Alpine ridge and in the Upper Engadine, avalanches were triggered last weekend in the old snowpack or at the transition to the old snowpack.

In Ticino, the weak layers in the old snowpack are now so heavily covered that only isolated avalanches can be triggered in the old snowpack. With increasing northerly winds, snowdrift accumulations that are prone to triggering are developing locally in the south.

The snowpack is water-saturated on southern slopes up into high Alpine regions, as well as on western and eastern slopes below approximately 2000 to 2200 m. On northern slopes moistening is only superficial. In the last few days, several wet and gliding avalanches, some of the latter large, have been triggered. A combination of sometimes declining outgoing longwave radiation, and daytime irradiation with higher temperatures means that gliding and wet avalanches are still possible.

Weather forecast to Wednesday

In the north and east there will be heavy cloud with light precipitation. The snowfall level will be around 1500 m. In Valais there will be sunny intervals, while in the south it will be mainly sunny, with cumulus clouds developing over the course of the day.

Fresh snow

The following amounts fall above around 1800 m:

• a few centimetres in the north and east; up to 10 cm on the northern flank of the Alps from the eastern Bernese Alps to Liechtenstein

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, between 0 °C in the north and +3 °C in the south

Wind

Northerly to northeasterly:

• initially light to moderate, freshening at higher altitudes over the course of the day but mostly remaining moderate
• moderate foehn wind from the north on the southern flank of the Alps in the afternoon

Weather review for Tuesday

The north saw cloudy conditions with bright intervals and localised showers. The snowfall level was around 1400 to 1700 m. In Valais and the south, conditions were mainly sunny with cumulus clouds and isolated showers developing over the course of the day.

Fresh snow

Above approximately 2000 m, a few centimetres locally

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, between 0 °C in the north and +3 °C in the south.

Wind

Light to moderate northeasterly

OutlookThursday

Overnight there will be moderate to strong northeasterly winds at high altitudes. Low stratus clouds will remain into the morning on the northern flanks of the Alps, but elsewhere Thursday will be mainly sunny. Temperatures will get a little milder.

Fresh drifted snow will somewhat increase the risk of dry avalanches at high altitudes. Wet and gliding avalanches are to be expected over the course of the day. Touring and off-piste descents should be completed in good time.

Friday

After a mostly clear night, conditions will be mainly sunny with cumulus clouds developing over the course of the day. Winds will be light to moderate and will shift to the northwest. The risk of dry avalanches will slowly decrease. Wet and gliding avalanches are to be expected over the course of the day. Touring and off-piste descents should be completed in good time.