Pays d'Enhaut

Snowpack

It was very warm and sunny on Friday and Saturday. As a result, new and drifted snow from last Thursday has increasingly settled and consolidated in the high Alpine regions as well. There are still a few avalanche prone locations for dry avalanches, primarily on very steep shady slopes in the high Alpine regions. Some of the near-surface layers of the snowpack are still prone to triggering there, while up to last weekend avalanches were still being triggered by human activity in some places, including in deeper weak layers.

On southern slopes, the entire snowpack is increasingly water-saturated right up to the peaks in the high Alpine regions. North-facing slopes are water-saturated below approximately 3000 m.

The snowpack will barely freeze during the night into Sunday, which will be mostly overcast and mild. As a result of solar radiation and warmer daytime temperatures, naturally triggered wet avalanches are expected, even in the late morning. These can sweep the entire snowpack away with them.

Outlook

The nights into Monday and Tuesday will be mostly cloudy. There will be intermittent precipitation. On Monday there will be frequent showers during the day, with heavy thunderstorms at times. On Tuesday it will be partly sunny, with showers and thunderstorms particularly as the day progresses. The snowfall level will be around 3200 m. There will be a moderate wind from the west at times.

The danger of dry avalanches will increase somewhat with new fallen snow, especially at the highest altitudes in the Bernese Oberland, Valais and the Bernina region. With the lack of sun and the rain falling up into the high Alpine regions, wet avalanches are expected, including during the night.