Bex-Villars

Snowpack

In the high alpine regions, the larger amounts of new snow from the last four days and the drifted snow are still prone to triggering in some cases. In addition, weak layers are embedded in the near-surface layers of the old snowpack, especially on steep north-facing slopes. Avalanche observations from recent days confirm that these weak layers are prone to triggering.

A crust has formed beneath the new snow. Below this, the old snowpack is moist up to high altitudes. As a consequence of solar radiation, loose snow avalanches are to be expected on very steep slopes, especially in the regions with a lot of fresh snow. Wet snow avalanches, which can sweep away the entire snowpack, are possible in isolated cases, especially as the day progresses. This applies particularly to north-facing slopes between 2200 and 2600 m, where the snowpack is becoming saturated for the first time.

Weather forecast to Friday

Skies will mostly be clear overnight to Friday. During the day, it will be quite sunny with cumulus clouds and isolated showers and thunderstorms as the day progresses.

Fresh snow

-

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, around +6 °C

Wind

Mostly light from southerly directions, moderate at times in the high alpine regions

Weather review for Thursday

During the night into Thursday, precipitation continued to fall, mainly in Ticino and Grisons. During the day, there were sunny spells between residual cloud and cumulus clouds. Valais, Ticino and southern Grisons saw the most sun.

Fresh snow

From Wednesday afternoon to Thursday afternoon with a snowfall level of 1700 to 2000 m:

• from Avers via Val Bregaglia to the Bernina region: 20 to 40 cm
• from the Aletsch region via Goms to the Rheinwald region and south of there: 10 to 20 cm
• elsewhere a widespread 5 to 10 cm

This means that over the four days from Sunday afternoon to Thursday afternoon, altitudes above approximately 2800 m saw the following snowfall:

• Lower Valais on the border with France, Aletsch region to Susten region, Main Alpine Ridge from Monte Rosa to the Bernina region and south of there: mostly 30 to 60 cm
• rest of Valais: 15 to 30 cm
• Less elsewhere

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, between +2 °C in the northeast and +7 °C from the Visp valleys to western Ticino

Wind

Southwesterly

• During the night into Thursday, often moderate at high altitudes
• Easing during the day

Outlook to Sunday

The night into Saturday will be mostly clear. During the day, it will be quite sunny on the southern flank of the Alps, otherwise mostly sunny with cumulus clouds and isolated showers as the day progresses. During the night into Sunday, cloud cover will increase from the southwest. On the southern flank of the Alps, it will be very cloudy with showers as early as the late morning. On the central and eastern parts of the northern flank of the Alps and in northern Grisons, there will be a foehn wind and it will still be partly sunny at first. Cloud cover will increase here as well later on. The zero-degree level will be around 3000 m on both days.

The danger of dry avalanches will decrease. Caution is still required in particular on steep north- and east-facing slopes in regions with a lot of fresh snow at high altitudes. On Saturday, the danger of wet avalanches will change in the course of the day; on Sunday, it will increase even in the early morning, especially on the southern flank of the Alps. Otherwise it will increase as the day progresses. Isolated wet avalanches which sweep away the entire snowpack are possible, especially on north-facing slopes between 2200 and 2600 m.