Val d'Hérens

Snowpack

In the west there is appreciably more snow than normal for the time of year, but significantly less in the south. In other regions, snow depths are average to slightly below average. Especially on shady slopes above approximately 2400 m and generally in high Alpine regions, there are faceted, long-lasting weak layers deep in the old snowpack. In many places in western regions with heavy snow, these layers are overlaid with deep fresh snow and so can no longer be easily triggered by winter sports participants. However, if avalanches are triggered in these deep layers, they can become large. In other regions, the weak old snowpack layers are closer to the surface. Here the snowpack, which is mostly still very thin, is becoming completely faceted and loose, meaning that here too avalanches can only be triggered in places.

This week's mostly small snowdrift accumulations are in some cases still prone to triggering. Gliding avalanche activity is decreasing,

Weather forecast to Thursday

In the north there will be low stratus cloud to around 1000 m, with quite sunny conditions above that, while the east will see sunny intervals. Conditions will be very cloudy on the southern flank of the Alps, with a little snow falling above approximately 1300 m.

Fresh snow

Main Alpine Ridge and south of there: 1 to 5 cm, in Ticino up to 10 cm

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, around -1°C in the north and -3°C in the south

Wind

Light to moderate south to southwesterly

Weather review for Wednesday

There were sunny intervals in the mountains in the west and conditions were quite sunny in the east. It was very cloudy on the Main Alpine Ridge and south of there.

Fresh snow

A few centimetres locally in the west and south

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, between -1°C in the north and -3°C in the south

Wind

• Light to moderate from southerly directions, sometimes strong in regions exposed to the foehn wind in the north
• Light northeasterly in the Jura

OutlookFriday

In the north, it will be cloudy at first and a few centimetres of snow will fall above approximately 900 m by midday. In the afternoon, conditions will brighten up in the mountains. In the south, it will become increasingly sunny from the morning onwards. Winds will mainly be light. Avalanche danger will not change significantly.

Saturday

In the north, conditions will be mostly cloudy with light precipitation. The snowfall level will rise to between 1400 and 1700 m, with up to 10 cm of snowfall in the far west, elsewhere a few centimetres. The south will see sunny intervals with broken cloud cover. The wind will freshen, becoming moderate to strong southwesterly in the north and generally at high altitudes. Snowdrift accumulations, which are likely to be small but easily triggered, will form and avalanche danger will increase slightly.