obere Maggiatäler

Snowpack

In the west and north, near-surface layers of the snowpack are still sometimes prone to triggering, especially on wind-protected shady slopes. Otherwise, the snowpack in these regions is mostly well consolidated. In southern Valais, Ticino and Grisons, soft, faceted layers make the snowpack structure less favourable. However, on shady slopes the overlying layers are either soft or very hard due to the effect of the wind and are thus now only likely to propagate fractures in isolated cases. Hardly any human-triggered avalanches were reported during the week now coming to an end.

More fresh snow than expected fell in the south overnight to Saturday. The fresh snow is still prone to triggering, especially on shady slopes.

With rising daytime temperatures, moist snow slides are expected, especially in the areas of fresh snow in the south. Overall, gliding avalanche activity is somewhat on the rise again.

Weather forecast to Sunday

Conditions will be sunny in the mountains. In the central Prealps and in central and southern Ticino, it will be only intermittently sunny with broken low cloud.

Fresh snow

-

Temperature

The temperature will rise, reaching -2 °C in the north and -4 °C in the south at midday at 2000 m.

Wind

• Moderate Bise wind in the Jura
• Elsewhere mostly light

Weather review for Saturday

Conditions were cloudy in the south and heavy precipitation fell in some regions overnight to Saturday. The precipitation eased as the day progressed. The snowfall level dropped from 1200 to 700 m. In the north, with low stratus cloud, it was mostly sunny at higher altitudes.

Fresh snow

The following amounts of fresh snow fell above around 1200 m:

• central Ticino, lower Moesano: 15 to 30 cm
• neighbouring northern Ticino, Simplon region, upper Moesano, Sotto Ceneri: 5 to 15 cm
• rest of the Main Alpine Ridge in upper Valais: a few centimetres

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, around -5 °C.

Wind

• Jura, Prealps: moderate Bise wind, occasionally strong on the highest Jura peaks
• Otherwise light to moderate from the southeast

Outlook

Monday and Tuesday will be sunny in the mountains with mostly light winds. It will be milder, with the zero-degree level climbing to 2200 m on Monday and 2400 m on Tuesday.

The danger of dry avalanches will continue to decrease. There will be a possibility of moist snow slides during daytime hours. Gliding avalanche activity will also increase.