Wind slabs require caution
Edition: 5.4.2021, 17:00 / Next update: 6.4.2021, 18:00
Snowpack
Fresh snow and sometimes strong wind are giving rise to snow drift accumulations at high altitudes over a wide area. At high altitudes they are being deposited on a hard frozen snowpack, which in the high Alpine regions has been influenced by the wind. Fresh snow and snow drift accumulations can easily be released in very steep terrain. Fractures are unlikely to occur deeper in the snowpack.
As a consequence of the significant fall in temperature on Monday night, the snowpack, which is thoroughly moist up to high altitudes, will freeze to an increasing extent. Where the fresh snow falls on steep slopes on ground that is already bare, small snow slides can occur.
Observed weather on Monday, 05.04.2021
The night was clear and cold. After a sunny early morning, cloud built up from the northwest in the late morning, but it remained dry.
Fresh snow
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Temperature
At midday at 2000 m: about +1 °C
Wind
In the north and generally at elevated altitudes, moderate, in the afternoon, occasionally strong, from the west
Weather forecast through Tuesday, 06.04.2021
On Monday night, precipitation will commence in the north. The snowfall level will drop quickly to low altitudes. During the day in the north it will be mostly very cloudy. A little snow will fall at times. In the inneralpine regions there will be broken cloud in some instances. The southern flank of the Alps will remain sunny and dry with a strong northerly wind.
Fresh snow
From Monday evening until Tuesday afternoon above 1500 m:
  • Northern flank of the Alps from Kandertal into Liechtenstein excluding the Prealps, northern Lower Valais: 15 to 30 cm
  • Remaining parts of the northern flank of the Alps, southern Lower Valais, Upper Valais, northern and central Grisons, Engadine, Val Bedretto, Jura: 5 to 15 cm, but up to 20 cm locally at elevated altitudes
  • Further south: smaller amounts or none
Temperature
Cooling significantly during the night. At midday at 2000 m: -12 °C in the north and -9 °C in the south
Wind
  • North of the main Alpine ridge: moderate, strong at times at elevated altitudes, from the north
  • Southern flank of the Alps: strong northerly even in the lowlands
Outlook through Thursday, 08.04.2021
Wednesday
The northern flank of the Alps will be very cloudy. Snow will fall at times, even at low altitudes. Bright spells are possible in the inneralpine regions. The southern flank of the Alps will be sunny and dry with a northerly wind.
The avalanche danger may increase a little further on the northern flank of the Alps. In the other regions it will not change significantly.
Thursday
On Wednesday night a little more snow will fall in the central and eastern parts of the northern flank of the Alps. Otherwise the night will be mostly clear and very cold. During the day the weather will be mostly sunny.
The avalanche danger will not change significantly for the time being.