Schreckhorn

A lot of new snow in the high Alpine regions: Considerable avalanche danger will be encountered in some regions.

Snowpack

On Thursday afternoon an increasingly stormy southerly air current in the southern regions caused precipitation to set in. During the course of the day on Friday, the precipitation is expected to be quite intensive and heavy on the Main Alpine Ridge from Goms into the Upper Engadine and southwards therefrom. The snowfall level will lie at 3000 m to begin with, then descend during the course of the day down to 2500 m in the western regions, in the eastern regions to 2800 m. Prior to the precipitation there was a snow cover in the Bernina region and on the northern flank of the Alps above approximately 3000 m, in the Valais mostly above approximately 3500 m, which was only partially cohesive over a wide area.

Outlook through Sunday, 22.10.2023Saturday

The snowfall level will lie at approximately 2400 m. On the Main Alpine Ridge from Goms into the Avers and southwards therefrom, avalanche danger levels will continue to increase as a consequence of an additional 40 to 60 cm of fresh snow. In the remaining regions of Switzerland, avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly. In the western regions more than anywhere else, moist-snow slides can be expected during the course of the day as a result of the increasingly sunny weather which is anticipated.

Sunday

It is expected to be quite sunny. The danger of dry-snow avalanches will decrease. Nevertheless, mountain climbers can still trigger avalanches, particularly in the glaciated high alpine regions. In the major areas of precipitation, these releases can grow to dangerously large size. On sunny slopes, moist-snow avalanches can be expected. In the major areas of precipitation these releases will frequently attain medium size.