A favourable early-morning avalanche situation will prevail. Wet avalanches as the day progresses
Edition: 3.4.2021, 17:00 / Next update: 4.4.2021, 18:00
Snowpack
The snow level in the northern regions on north-facing slopes lies at 800 to 1200 m, in the southern regions at 1200 to 1800 m. On south-facing slopes the snowl levels lie approximately 500 m higher up, in the southern valleys of Visp even higher still in some places.
The snowpack is thoroughly wet on south-facing and west-facing slopes below approximately 3200 m, on east-facing slopes below approximately 2800 m, and on north-facing slopes below approximately 1800 m. In the uppermost third of the snow cover in many regions, a marked weak layer is evident. This layer is located generally in the vicinity of the layers of dust blown north from the Sahara desert in February.
On Saturday night on east-facing, south-facing and west-facing slopes, a melt-freeze crust capable of bearing loads will form on the snowpack surface. As a result of daytime warming and solar radiation on Easter Sunday, wet-snow avalanches will be possible during the course of the day, including even large-sized releases in isolated cases. On high-altitude north-facing slopes, dry-snow avalanches can still be triggered in isolated cases.
Observed weather on Saturday, 03.04.2021
Skies in the northern regions were frequently overcast on Friday night and a small amount of precipitation was registered from place to place. During the daytime on Holy Saturday in the western regions, southern regions and inneralpine regions, it was predominantly sunny. On the northern flank of the Alps from the eastern Bernese Alps as far as Liechtenstein, the low cirrus cloud cover resembling high fog dispersed only gradually.
Fresh snow
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Temperature
At midday at 2000 m, between +3 °C in the southwestern regions and -4 °C in the northeastern regions.
Wind
  • In the Jura region and the western Prealps, a moderate-strength bise wind was blowing;
  • in high alpine and southern regions, a moderate to strong velocity wind from northerly directions was blowing in some places, elsewhere blowing at light to moderate strength.
Weather forecast through Sunday, 04.04.2021
Skies on Saturday night in the Simplon region and in Sottoceneri are expected to be partly overcast. In the other regions of Switzerland skies will be cold and clear over widespread areas. During the daytime on Easter Sunday it will be sunny in the mountains.
Fresh snow
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Temperature
At midday at 2000 m, between +1°C in the western and the southern regions and -3 °C in the eastern regions.
Wind
  • During the night in northwestern regions, a moderate-strength bise wind will be blowing; in the other regions of Switzerland winds will be light to moderate from the northeast;
  • during the daytime at heightened altitudes, winds will be moderate from the northeast.
Outlook through Tuesday, 06.04.2021
Monday
On Easter Monday it will be sunny to begin with. During the course of the day, cloud cover will move in from the northwest. By afternoon it will become dry over widespread areas. A strong-velocity westerly wind will arise.
Avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly.
Tuesday
In the evening hours on Easter Monday, precipitation will set in from the north. The snowfall level will rapidly descend from approximately 1200 m down to low lying areas. During the daytime on Tuesday it will be rather sunny in the southern regions, in the remaining regions of Switzerland skies will be overcast over widespread areas, accompanied by snowfall. By Tuesday afternoon on the northern flank of the Alps, 20 to 30 cm of fresh snow is anticipated. As a result of northerly winds it will be very cold.
Except in southern regions, the danger of dry-snow avalanches will increase significantly, most strikingly on the northern flank of the Alps. Wet-snow avalanches are no longer to be expected.