Génépi

Snowpack

The fresh snow on the Main Alpine Ridge and to the south of there is lying in places on an unfavourable old snow surface made up of soft faceted layers, especially on northern slopes. On south-facing slopes, the connection between fresh and old snow is more favourable. In general, in those regions south of a line from the Rone to the Rhine, deep layers or sometimes the entire snowpack are faceted and loose, especially on steep north-facing slopes. In these regions isolated avalanches can still be triggered in deep layers of the snowpack.

Further north, the snowpack is usually well consolidated, but near-surface layers are also loose in places.

Individual gliding avalanches are still possible, especially in the north.

Weather forecast to Thursday

Conditions will vary from cloudy with bright intervals to very cloudy with some precipitation. The snowfall level will drop from 1200 m to 800 m in the north and will be between 1200 and 1400 m in the south. There will be extended brighter spells especially in the inneralpine regions of Valais and Grisons.

Fresh snow

From Wednesday afternoon to Thursday afternoon, the following amounts are anticipated above around 1400 m:

• extreme west of Lower Valais, northern flank of the Alps, Prättigau, Moesano, Avers and Val Bregaglia: 5 to 15 cm
• a widespread few centimetres elsewhere

Temperature

Falling, at midday at 2000 m between -5 °C in the north, -3 °C in the south and 0 °C in the east

Wind

• Still mostly light overnight to Thursday
• During the day mostly moderate, at high altitudes also strong from the southwest

Weather review for Wednesday

Conditions were mostly cloudy with some precipitation, especially in the south. The snowfall level was between 1200 m on the southern flank of the Alps and in the Jura and 1600 m on the northern flank of the Alps.

Fresh snow

The following amounts fell from Tuesday afternoon to Wednesday afternoon:

• central part of the southern flank of the Alps and Val Bregaglia to the Bernina region: 10 to 20 cm
• directly adjoining regions of the Main Alpine Ridge, extreme west of Lower Valais, Jura: 5 to 10 cm
• less elsewhere.

The following amounts fell from Sunday afternoon to Wednesday afternoon above 2000 m:

• southern flank of the Alps apart from Val Müstair, as well as the Bernina region: 20 to 40 cm
• remaining Main Alpine Ridge: 10 to 20 cm
• elsewhere less or dry.

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, between 0 °C in the north and -2 °C in the south.

Wind

Light to moderate from southerly directions, decreasing as the day progressed

Outlook

On Friday and Saturday, conditions will be overcast with precipitation in the south. A total of 30 to 50 cm of snow is expected to fall on the central part of the main Alpine ridge and south of there as well as in the Avers, Val Bregaglia, Bernina and Val Poschiavo regions; elsewhere less. In the north, conditions will be mostly very cloudy with some precipitation, especially in the east where 10 to 20 cm of snow will fall; elsewhere less. However, the amount of precipitation is still uncertain. The snowfall level will be around 1400 m in the south and 900 m in the north. Brighter spells are possible, especially in the inneralpine regions of Valais and Grisons. Winds from southerly directions will be light to moderate in the mountains, with a moderate bise wind along the Prealps and in the Jura.

The danger of dry avalanches will increase significantly in the south and generally slightly elsewhere. Occasional gliding avalanches are still possible.