Schanfigg

Increase in avalanche danger as a consequence of new snow and stormy weather

Increase in avalanche danger as a consequence of new snow and stormy weather

Weak layers in the old snowpack can be released in some places by people in particular on steep, little used west, north and east facing slopes. This applies in particular at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack. Avalanches can reach medium size. In addition the more recent wind slabs should be taken into account. The prevalence of these avalanche prone locations will increase with altitude. Backcountry touring and other off-piste activities call for defensive route selection.

As a consequence of snowfall and strong to storm-strength winds, increasingly wide-ranging snowdrift accumulations will be generated during the course of the day. These accumulaations can be triggered with great ease. During the afternoon in the western and the northern regions, increasingly frequent naturally triggered avalanches will be possible. From the southern Valais over the northern Ticino as far as Grisons there are weak layers evident deeply embedded inside the snowpack. Avalanches can fracture in these deep down layers and subsequently expand to large size in some places. At intermediate altitudes the snowpack, which in places is moist, gradually freezes. Isolated, in some cases large-sized gliding avalanches continue to be possible, particularly on the northern flank of the Alps.

On Saturday night the skies to start with were clear over widespread areas. Subsequently clouds moved in from the northwest. During the daytime on Sunday on the northern flank of the Alps and in the Jura region, skies were frequently heavily overcast, in the other regions of Switzerland it was quite sunny. Fresh snow: - Temperature: At midday at 2000 m, between -3 °C in the northern regions and +1 °C in the southern regions. Wind: - Winds were blowing at moderate to strong velocity over widespread areas, intermittently at storm strength, from westerly directions; - on the southern flank of the Alps blowing at light to moderate strength from northwesterly directions. During the latter part of the night, precipitation will set in from the northwest. During the daytime hours snowfall is expected to persist over widespread areas, during the afternoon even become intensive on the northern flank of the Alps and in the Lower Valais. The snowfall level will descend from 1200 m down to approximately 700 m. On the southern flank of the Alps it will be quite sunny and remain predominantly dry. Fresh snow: Between Sunday evening and Monday afternoon, the following amounts of fresh snow are anticipated: - northern Alpine Ridge west of the Reuss, furthermost western part of the Lower Valais, western part of Jura region: 20 to 30 cm; from place to place as much as 40 cm; - remaining parts of the northern flank of the Alps, remaining parts of the Valais, central and eastern parts of Jura region, northern Grisons: 10 to 25 cm; - in the other regions of Switzerland, only a few centimetres; in the southern regions it will remain predominantly dry. Temperature: Temperatures will continue to drop incrementally. At midday at 2000 m: -7 °C. Wind: Winds will be blowing from westerly directions, then shifting to northwesterly and increasing in intensity. In the afternoon in some places, blowing at storm strength.

On Monday night in the northern regions, snowfall is anticipated over widespread areas; intensive and persistent snowfall is expected on the northern flank of the Alps, in the Lower Valais and in northern Grisons. On Tuesday skies will be heavily overcast for the most part, intermittent snowfall is also expected. During Tuesday night, a small amount of additional snowfall is expected in the northeastern regions in particular. Following the dispersal of cloud cover it will be quite sunny on Wednesday. Avalanche danger levels are expected to further increase in the northern regions on Monday night. In the major areas of precipitation, Danger Level 4 (“high”) could be reached from region to region. On Wednesday the avalanche danger levels will decrease somewhat, however for winter sports enthusiasts conditions in backcountry terrain away from secured public ski slopes remain critical over widespread areas. In the southern regions it will be quite sunny on both days as a result of northerly winds. The avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly.