Grimselpass

Snowpack

There is appreciably less snow than usual at this time of year in most regions and snow conditions for ski touring are very poor in many places. Only in northern Lower Valais are snow depths approaching average. On southern slopes and in general below 2400 m, the snowpack has mostly frozen solid. On wind-protected northern slopes above approximately 2400 m, the surface of the snowpack is widely faceted.

On the Main Alpine Ridge in Valais and in western Ticino, the small volumes of fresh snow which have fallen in the last few days are lying on a thin but weak old snowpack of faceted crystals. With the expected arrival of fresh snow, the avalanche danger will increase rapidly in these regions. In the inneralpine regions of Valais, on the southern flank of the Alps and throughout Grisons, there are weak layers of faceted crystals or surface hoar in the snowpack on shady slopes above approximately 2400 m. Although these weak layers could be triggered in stability tests, it was very rare for avalanches to be triggered. Further north, the structure of the snowpack is more favourable.

Weather forecast to Thursday

In the south, it will be very cloudy, and snow will fall down to low altitudes. In the north, it will be sunny in the mountains.

Fresh snow

The following amounts of snow will fall above 1000 m by Thursday afternoon:

• Monte Rosa, upper Saas Valley, Simplon region, Binntal: 20 to 40 cm
• Rest of the Main Alpine Ridge directly along the border with Italy, Bedretto and Valle Maggia: 10 to 20 cm
• Northern neighbouring regions, Aletsch region, rest of Ticino, Moesano, Val Bregaglia and Bernina region: 5 to 10 cm

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, between 0 °C in the north and -4 °C in the south

Wind

• Southeasterly winds, strong during the night, stormy in the high alpine regions
• Easing significantly during the day

Weather review for Wednesday

In the north, it was overcast with high stratus cloud up to around 2500 m with light snowfall down to low altitudes. Above that, it was sunny. In the south, it was still quite sunny in the morning, then increasingly cloudy, and snow began to fall in the afternoon.

Fresh snow

A few centimetres locally

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, around -8 °C in the north, -3 °C in the south and -1 °C in the west

Wind

• Strong Bise wind in the Jura and the northern Prealps
• Otherwise mostly light easterly winds

Outlook to Saturday

On Friday morning, the snowfall will end in the south and it will then be widely sunny in the mountains. It will become increasingly mild.

The avalanche danger will decrease only slowly in areas with new fallen snow, otherwise it will remain largely unchanged.