A generally favourable avalanche situation will prevail. Fresh wind slabs require caution
Edition: 14.3.2022, 17:00 / Next update: 15.3.2022, 18:00
Snowpack
On north facing slopes, the snow drift accumulations that have formed in recent days, in particular in the northern regions exposed to the foehn wind, are lying on faceted old snow and remain prone to triggering in isolated cases. Barely any transportable snow now remains in the regions exposed to the foehn. On the main Alpine ridge, in contrast, with little new snow and a strong southwesterly wind, fresh snow drift accumulations are to be expected at elevated altitudes.
In southern Valais and the inneralpine and southern regions of Grisons, distinct weak layers exist deeper in the snowpack. Since the end of February, however, no further avalanche releases in these layers have been reported.
In particular north of a line between the Rhone and Rhine, gliding avalanches can still occur. With overcast skies, wet snow avalanches are unlikely to occur on Tuesday.
Observed weather on Monday, 14.03.2022
During the night there was frequent cloud. A little snow fell in the west and south. The snowfall level was approximately 1200 m in the west and approximately 700 m in the south. It was mostly sunny during the day; high-altitude cloud built up from the west in the afternoon.
Fresh snow
A few centimetres in the western Jura and western Lower Valais, and on the main Alpine ridge from the Great St Bernhard Pass to the San Bernardino Pass
Temperature
At midday at 2000 m: between +2 °C in the north and -2 °C in the south
Wind
  • During the night, a moderate to strong south foehn in the northern valleys where the foehn occurs
  • During the day at elevated altitudes, moderate southwesterly, otherwise mostly light
Weather forecast through Tuesday, 15.03.2022
The nightime and daytime will be mostly overcast with airborne Saharan dust. A little precipitation will fall on Alpine ridgelines in particular. In the north, the snowfall level will rise from approximately 1600 to 2000 m. In the south, it will rise from approximately 1300 to 1600 m.
Fresh snow
By Tuesday afternoon the following amounts of snow will fall above approximately 1800 m:
  • Main Alpine ridge from the Great St Bernhard Pass into the Bernina region and to the south: 5 to 10 cm, but more in some localities
  • Northern Alpine ridge from Les Diablerets into the Glarus Alps: a few centimetres; otherwise mostly dry
Temperature
At midday at 2000 m: between +6 °C in the north and 0 °C in the south
Wind
  • In the northern regions exposed to the foehn, a moderate to strong foehn wind
  • At elevated altitudes in the north, strong; in the south, mostly moderate, from the southwest
Outlook through Thursday, 17.03.2022
After a clear night, Wednesday will be sunny. On Wednesday night, thin cloud will build up from the west. Apart from this thin cloud, it will be quite sunny during the day. It will be mild; the zero degree level will be approximately 3000 m. The wind will be mostly light.
The danger of dry avalanches will decrease. In the mornings the conditions for backcountry skiing will be favourable. As a consequence of daytime warming and solar radiation, both wet snow and gliding avalanches are to be expected; gliding avalanches are most likely to occur north of a line between the Rhone and Rhine.