Génépi

A generally favourable avalanche situation will prevail

A generally favourable avalanche situation will prevail

Faceted weak layers exist deep in the snowpack. In particular in areas where the snow cover is rather shallow avalanches can be triggered in the old snow and reach a dangerous size. This applies especially on very steep slopes in little used backcountry terrain. The avalanche prone locations are very rare but are barely recognisable, even to the trained eye. Defensive route selection is appropriate.

In the southern Valais as well as in the inneralpine and southern regions of Grisons, there are weak layers evident which are deeply embedded inside the snowpack. In these layers, isolated large-sized avalanches were triggered during the last week by persons, to some extent by remote triggerings. This week, no such triggerings were registered. In the remaining regions of Switzerland the snowpack structuring is more favourable. Nevertheless, stability tests have also revealed fractures in the surface-near layers in these regions. On the northern flank of the Alps more than anywhere else, isolated gliding avalanches can still, ongoingly, be expected. In the southern regions there is unusually little snow on the ground, at numerous measurement stations there is less snow than evey before registered at this juncture of the season. As a result of the thin, often faceted (expansively metamorphosed) snowpack there is currently a heightened danger of falling into crevices on the glaciers, in the regions of Zermatt and Saas Fee more than anywhere else.

Following a night of partially overcast skies, a sunny day was registered. Fresh snow: - Temperature: At midday at 2000 m, between +1 °C in the western regions and -1 °C in the eastern regions. Wind: Winds were predominantly light from the north. Following a night of clear skies it will be sunny during the daytime. Fresh snow: - Temperature: At midday at 2000 m, between -3 °C in the western regions and -7 °C in the eastern regions. Wind: Winds at high altitude will be moderate strength from northerly directions.

Following nights of clear skies it will be sunny on each following day. Only on Saturday morning in the furthermost southern regions are skies expected to be overcast. As a consequence of light northeasterly winds it will be relatively cool. The avalanche situation will be predominantly favourable. The persistent weak layer which is a latent danger will persist, however.