Bex-Villars

Wet and gliding snow represent the main danger.

Outgoing longwave radiation during the night will be barely evident. From origins in starting zones where no previous releases have taken place wet and gliding avalanches are to be expected at any time. These can in some cases release the entire snowpack and reach very large size in isolated cases on north facing slopes. This applies in particular below approximately 3000 m. In the typical avalanche paths avalanches can reach areas without any snow cover.

Avalanche prone locations for dry avalanches are to be found in particular on steep northwest, north and northeast facing slopes above approximately 3000 m. In some places avalanches can be released in near-surface layers. The avalanches are rather small. Careful route selection is recommended.

Snowpack Dry-snow avalanches are still possible on very steep north-facing slopes in high alpine regions more than anywhere else. The snow cover is thoroughly wet below approximately 2500 m on north-facing slopes, in other aspects it is thoroughly wet up to over 3000 m. In the southern Valais and in Grisons more than anywhere else, as well as from place to place in the other regions of Switzerland, there are still pronounced weakened layers deeply embedded inside the old snow cover. On north-facing slopes between approximately 2500 and 3000 m, these weakened layers are gradually being made wet for the first time this season and thereby, weakened to further degree. During a night of overcast skies, the snowpack surface is able to cool only to a limited extent, and freezes only above the zero-degree altitude level. Thereby, and also as a consequence of rainfall, the danger of wet-snow avalanches is heightened already in the morning hours and subsequently increases further during the course of the day, particularly in regions where there are bright intervals. Naturally triggered wet-snow avalanches can be expected. On north-facing slopes above approximately 2400 m more than anywhere else, these releases can in some places sweep along the entire snow cover and subsequently grow to large size. Observed weather review Saturday, 06.05.2023 Nighttime skies on Friday night were overcast. During the daytime on Saturday it was rather sunny. Fresh snow There was a few centimetres of fresh snow registered in the high alpine regions. Temperature At midday at 2000 m, between +6 °C in the central and eastern sectors of the northern flank of the Alps and +11 °C in the southern Valais and on the southern flank of the Alps. Wind Winds were blowing at light to moderate strength from westerly directions. Weather forecast through Sunday, 07.05.2023 Nocturnal skies on Saturday night will be overcast, accompanied by thunderstorms on the northern flank of the Alps and the southern flank of the Alps more than anywhere else. During the daytime hours on Sunday, conditions will be variable, accompanied by extended bright intervals in some places, alongside showers and thunderstorms. Fresh snow The snowfall level will lie at approximately 2800 m. In the Aletsch region, in the southern Valais and in the Bernina region, 5 to 10 cm of fresh snowfall is possible in the high alpine zones. Temperature At midday at 2000 m, +8 °C. Wind Winds will be blowing at predominantly light strength from westerly to southwesterly directions. Outlook through Tuesday, 09.05.2023 Monday Nighttime skies on Sunday will be overcast, accompanied by precipitation. The focal point of the precipitation will lie in the central and eastern sectors of the northern flank of the Alps. The snowfall level will lie at 2500 m. During the course of the day on Monday, increasingly frequent bright intervals coming from the west are expected in the southern regions. In the eastern regions, skies are expected to remain heavily overcast. Winds will shift to northerly and be blowing at moderate strength, particularly at heightened altitudes. The danger of dry-snow avalanches could increase somewhat in the high alpine regions of the northern Alpine Ridge as a consequence of fresh fallen snow and winds. The danger of wet-snow avalanches is already elevated in the early morning hours, and will subsequently increase further as a result of solar radiation and higher daytime temperatures. Tuesday Nocturnal skies on Monday night will presumably be rather clear. During the morning hours on Tuesday it will be partly sunny. During the afternoon, skies will become gray from the west and precipitation will arise. The snowfall level will lie at 2500 m to begin with. Winds will temporarily slacken off. In the high alpine regions the danger of dry-snow avalanches will decrease somewhat. As a consequence of nocturnal outgoing longwave radiation, the danger of wet-snow avalanches will be subject to a daytime danger cycle to a greater extent than during the previous days.