A favourable avalanche situation will prevail
Edition: 5.3.2022, 17:00 / Next update: 6.3.2022, 18:00
Snowpack
In the southern Valais as well as in the inneralpine and southern regions of Grisons, there are weak layers evident deeply embedded inside the snowpack. Although these layers are quite pronounced from place to place, there have been no further avalanches triggered from them during the last week.
In the remaining regions of Switzerland, the snowpack layering is more favorably structured. Nevertheless, stability tests have demonstrated that even here in some places, there are fractures in the surface-near layers.
On the northern flank of the Alps more than anywhere else, isolated gliding avalanches continue to be possible in isolated cases.
In the southern regions there is an unusually small amount of snow on the ground, at numerous measurement stations less than has ever before been measured at this juncture of the season. As a consequence of the thin, often expansively metamorphosed (faceted) layers inside the snowpack there is currently a heightened danger of falling into crevices on the glaciers, most particularly in the regions of Zermatt and Saas Fee.
Observed weather on Saturday, 05.03.2022
Following a night of predominantly clear skies it was sunny during the daytime hours. In the furthermost southern regions skies were overcast during the nocturnal hours and also during the morning.
Fresh snow
-
Temperature
At midday at 2000 m, -6 °C.
Wind
Winds were blowing predominantly at light strength, at moderate strength in high alpine regions, from northeasterly directions.
Weather forecast through Sunday, 06.03.2022
Following a night of clear skies it will be sunny during the daytime hours. In the furthermost southern regions there will be some cloudbanks during the nighttime and early morning hours.
Fresh snow
-
Temperature
At midday at 2000 m, -7 °C.
Wind
Winds will be predominantly light, moderate in the high alpine regions, from northeasterly directions.
Outlook through Tuesday, 08.03.2022
Following nights of clear skies it will be sunny on each successive day. As a consequence of light-strength northeasterly winds, temperatures will be relatively cool. The zero-degree level will lie below 1500 m.
The avalanche situation is expected to remain favourable. Isolated avalanche prone locations occur on very steep, shady slopes in the inneralpine regions in particular. Gliding avalanches are possible.