Bulletin d’avalanche

Slightly increasing daytime danger

Slightly increasing daytime danger

Predominantly “low” avalanche danger prevails. Isolated danger zones for dry-snow avalanches occur still in extremely steep, mostly shady terrain in high alpine regions. Apart from the risks of being buried in snow, the dangers of being swept along and forced to take a fall also require attentiveness. Lacking great daytime warming and solar radiation, the danger of wet-snow and glide-snow avalanches hardly increases. Only superficial small wet-snow avalanches are to be expected. Glide-snow avalanches continue to be possible, but are nearly impossible to predict. Zones below glide cracks in the surface should be avoided. Backcountry tours should start early, end early.

Following a night of cloudless skies and adequate outgoing longwave radiation, the snowpack was able to form a melt-freeze crust capable of bearing loads. Below the crust, however, the snowpack is thoroughly wet and even the base is often wet up to high altitudes. On very steep smooth slopes this furthers the gliding movement of the entire snowpack. During the day the snowpack softens with varying rapidity, losing firmness.

A compact layer of clouds combined with dust from the Sahara will impede the sunshine and create diffuse light conditions. A brisk W/SW wind will come up, the air will cool gradually. At 2000 m: 2 degrees. Light to moderate winds, in foehn-exposed regions blowing at brisk strength, from the southwest.

Tonight the skies will be heavily overcast. Wednesday will bring precipitation and lower temperatures. Avalanche danger levels are not expected to change to begin with.