The snowpack on south-facing slopes below 2500 to 2800 m, and on east-facing and west-facing slopes below 2000 to 2300 m, is thoroughly wet. On north-facing slopes the wetness to this degree starts below 1500 to 1800 m. In the northern regions where snowfall has been heavier than elsewhere, numerous glide cracks have opened in the snowpack surface. Gliding avalanches are growing to large size in some cases.
More deeply embedded inside the snowpack, more than anywhere else in the southern Valais as well as in the inneralpine and the southern regions of Grisons, there are pronounced weak layers evident. However, since the end of February until the middle of March, no further fractures have been recorded as triggering in these layers. Currently, as a consequence of the beginning moistening of the snowpack, fractures in these weak layers have again become possible, as initial triggerings have already demonstrated.

Nocturnal skies on Thursday night were overcast. In the eastern regions there was a small amount of precipitation, the snowfall level lay at 1500 to 1800 m. During the daytime hours on Friday skies were heavily overcast for the most part and the atmosphere was extremely hazy. It was rather sunny only in the Valais.

-

At midday, between +5 °C in the Valais and +1 °C in the remaining regions of Switzerland.

Winds were northeasterly.

• A moderate to strong velocity bise wind was blowing in the Jura region and in the Prealps;
• in the remaining regions of Switzerland, winds were blowing at light to moderate strength.

On Friday night, skies are expected to be overcast. On the southern flank of the Alps a small amount of precipitation is anticipated. During the morning hours on Saturday, skies will rapidly brighten up from the northeast. Subsequently it will probably become predominantly sunny in the eastern regions, and at least partly sunny in the western and the southern regions.

The snowfall level is expected to descend from 1200 down to 800 m. A small amount of snowfall is anticipated:

• in the central sector of the southern flank of the Alps: 5 to 10 cm;
• in the remaining parts of the Main Alpine Ridge, less; in the other regions of Switzerland it is expected to remain generally dry.

At midday at 2000 m, between 0 °C in the northern regions and -3 °C in the southern regions.

Winds will be predominantly light, blowing at intermittently moderate strength in the eastern regions, from the northeast, subsequently shifting to southwesterly directions.