Val d'Entremont-Val Ferret

At elevated altitudes a considerable avalanche danger will be encountered over a wide area.

The new snow and wind slabs of the last two days are prone to triggering in high Alpine regions. Additionally in some places avalanches can be released in deep layers and reach dangerously large size. This applies especially in areas where the snow cover is rather shallow on north facing slopes above approximately 2400 m. As a consequence of the solar radiation, the likelihood of dry avalanches being released will increase. Backcountry touring and other off-piste activities call for experience in the assessment of avalanche danger.

As a consequence of warming during the day and solar radiation small to medium-sized wet avalanches are to be expected. Backcountry tours should be concluded timely.

Snowpack Fresh fallen snow and freshly generated snowdrift accumulations from Thursday and Friday were deposited on north-facing slopes above approximately 2600 m on top of a loosely-packed old snowpack surface. Particularly there, but also in high alpine regions in general, these layers are still prone to triggering. Furthermore, on west-facing, north-facing and east-facing slopes above approximately 2400 m, there are layers which are deeply embedded inside the snow cover that are weak. Numerous avalanche releases on north-facing slopes on Friday, some of which were large-sized avalanches, demonstrated that fractures deep down inside the snowpack are possible, particularly in the inneralpine regions of Grisons. The same thing cannot be excluded in the southern Valais and on the southern flank of the Alps. As a consequence of higher daytime temperatures and solar radiation, wet-snow avalanches can be expected to release during the course of the day. On the northern flank of the Alps and in northern Valais, gliding avalanches are possible. Observed weather review Friday, 21.04.2023 During the nocturnal hours in the eastern and the southern regions there was persistent precipitation registered, some of which was intensive. The snowfall level lay between 1200 and 1600 m. In the western regions skies were partly clear. During the daytime hours in the northern regions it was intermittently sunny, in the southern regions there was a small amount of additional snowfall above 1600 m. Fresh snow Between Thursday morning and Friday afternoon the following amounts of fresh snow were registered above 2200 m:

• eastern Ticino, Moesano, Main Alpine Ridge from Rheinwaldhorn as far as the Bernina: 50 to 70 cm;
• northern part of Lower Valais west of the Wildhorn, remaining parts of Ticino, remaining parts of Grisons not including Prättigau, Davos and Lower Engadine: 30 to 50 cm;
• central and eastern sectors of the northern flank of the Alps: 15 to 30 cm;
• in the other regions of Switzerland: 5 to 15 cm, in the high alpine regions frequently more.

Temperature At midday at 2000 m, between +3 °C in the northern regions and -1 °C in the southern regions. Wind Winds during the night were blowing at moderate strength from southerly to southwesterly directions, during the daytime in the northern regions at moderate to strong velocity from southerly directions. Weather forecast through Saturday, 22.04.2023 Nighttime skies will be only partly clear. During the daytime it will be quite sunny in spite of intermittent cloudbanks. During the afternoon, clouds will become more dense from the west. Fresh snow - Temperature At midday at 2000 m, +6 °C in the northern regions and +4 °C in the southern regions. Wind Winds will be blowing at light to moderate strength from southwesterly directions. Outlook through Monday, 24.04.2023 Sunday Nocturnal skies on Saturday will be partly overcast. It is possible some precipitation will fall. During the daytime hours on Sunday, skies will be overcast in the southern and the western regions, accompanied by precipitation during the afternoon in particular. In the other regions of Switzerland it will be partly sunny, and will remain predominantly dry. The snowfall level will lie between 1500 and 1900 m. The danger of dry-snow avalanches is expected to decrease slightly. Wet-snow and gliding avalanches are possible. Monday During the night on Sunday, precipitation is expected over widespread areas with the focal point on the northern flank of the Alps and in the Lower Valais. The snowfall level will lie at 1500 m. During the daytime on Monday, it will be sunny in the southern regions as a consequence of northerly foehn winds, in the other regions of Switzerland skies will be partly overcast. The danger of dry-snow avalanches could increase again from region to region as a result of the fresh snow. Wet-snow and gliding avalanches are possible.