Pays d'Enhaut

Weakly bonded old snow in the inneralpine regions

Weakly bonded old snow in the inneralpine regions

A generally favourable avalanche situation will prevail. In very isolated cases avalanches can be triggered in deep layers of the snowpack and reach large size. These avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular in areas where the snow cover is rather shallow. In some localities small wind slabs formed. Careful route selection is recommended. In starting zones where no previous releases have taken place individual medium-sized and, in isolated cases, large gliding avalanches are possible. Caution is to be exercised in areas with glide cracks.

Weak layers exist near the base of the snowpack in particular on west, north and east facing slopes above approximately 2200 m. In western Lower Valais and on the northern flank of the Alps, these near-ground layers are embedded deep, so that the probability of avalanches being released by people is small. From central Valais through Ticino to Grisons, the bonding of the snowpack is least favourable. Here in recent days, medium-sized avalanches have been released by people. The gliding avalanche activity will continue to decrease. Individual gliding avalanches originating on steep grassy slopes that have retained the snow thus far, however, still remain possible.

After a clear night, it was sunny in the mountains during the day. Fresh snow: - Temperature: At midday at 2000 m: between +1 °C in the north and -7 °C in the south Wind: Light to moderate from westerly directions After a clear night, it will be sunny during the day in the mountains. Fresh snow: - Temperature: At midday at 2000 m: between +2 °C in the west and -1 °C in the east Wind: Light to moderate from the west to northwest

Thursday: Thursday will be quite sunny despite some cloudbanks. The avalanche danger will change very little. Friday: On Christmas Eve, cloud will build up from the west in the morning. In the afternoon, a little precipitation is possible. Increasingly strong wind from the west will give rise in the north to small snow drift accumulations that are prone to triggering. Otherwise, the avalanche danger will change very little.