Hohgant

Weakly bonded old snow requires caution.

Weak layers in the upper part of the snowpack can still be released in some place by people. Avalanches can in some cases reach medium size. The avalanche prone locations are to be found especially in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. As a consequence of warming during the day and the solar radiation, the likelihood of dry avalanches being released will increase a little on steep south facing slopes. Backcountry touring and other off-piste activities call for careful route selection.

In particular on very steep sunny slopes moist avalanches are possible as a consequence of warming during the day.

Snowpack Inside the snow cover over widespread areas there are expansively metamorphosed (faceted) and loosely-packed layers evident. In the southern Valais and Grisons more than anywhere else, the entire snow cover is expansively metamorphosed (faceted) in places, and loose. Further east, the faceted layers are blanketed over by fresh snowfall and freshly generated snowdrift accumulations from last weekend. In the remaining regions of Switzerland, older snowdrift accumulations are deposited on top of weak, faceted snow layers in some places and are still prone to triggering. In the northern and the furthermost western part of the Lower Valais the snowpack structure is most favourable and there are hardly any pronounced weak layers evident inside the snowpack. As a consequence of solar radiation and daytime warming, wet-snow avalanches can be expected on very steep south-facing slopes during the course of the day. Observed weather review Saturday, 11.02.2023 Following a night of clear skies it was predominantly sunny. In the eastern and the southern regions more than anywhere else, high-altitude cloudbanks passed through for a brief period. Fresh snow - Temperature At midday at 2000 m, +2 °C. Wind Winds at high altitudes were blowing predominantly at moderate strength from northeasterly directions. Weather forecast through Sunday, 12.02.2023 Following a night of clear skies it is expected to be sunny during the daytime hours. Fresh snow - Temperature At midday at 2000 m, between +5 °C in the western regions and +3 °C in the eastern regions. Wind Winds will be blowing at light to moderate strength from northeasterly directions. Outlook through Tuesday, 14.02.2023 Following nights of clear skies it is expected to be sunny and mild during the daytime hours. The zero-degree level will lie at approximately 3000 m. The danger of dry-snow avalanches will continue to diminish incrementally. On very steep sunny slopes, wet-snow and gliding avalanches can be expected.