In the early morning a generally favourable avalanche situation will prevail. Wet avalanches during the day
Edition: 13.4.2022, 17:00 / Next update: 14.4.2022, 18:00
Snowpack
Above the crust inside the snowpack containing dust from the Sahara there is a weak layer in some places in the western and the northern regions more than anywhere else. Additional isolated avalanches have again been observed triggering in this weak layer, although less often than on last weekend. No further more deeply embedded fractures have been observed inside the snowpack
On the moistened snowpack surface, only a thin melt-freeze crust can form during nights of partly cloudy skies, which then swiftly softens up during the course of the day. The snowpack thereby forfeits stability and wet-snow and gliding avalanches can be expected.
As a consequence of the high temperatures and the intense solar radiation, the snowpack is more and more becoming thoroughly wet. South-facing slopes are already wet up as far as high alpine regions, west-facing and east-facing slopes below approximately 2800 m, north-facing slopes below approximately 2000 m.
Observed weather on Wednesday, 13.04.2022
Nocturnal skies on Tuesday were predominantly overcast during the early part of the night, in the latter part of the night skies were rather clear. The outgoing longwave radiation was thus reduced. During the daytime it was quite sunny, apart from some high-altitude cloudbanks and the perturbed light conditions caused by dust from the Sahara.
Fresh snow
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Temperature
At midday at 2000 m, in the inneralpine regions at +10 °C, in the other regions of Switzerland at +7 °C.
Wind
Winds were blowing predominantly at light strength from southerly directions.
Weather forecast through Thursday, 14.04.2022
Nighttime skies on Wednesday will be partly overcast and the outgoing longwave radiation will be reduced. During the daytime on Thursday it will be quite sunny, apart from cloudbanks passing through and dust from the Sahara. During the afternoon, isolated showers are anticipated.
Fresh snow
Shower activity in the northern Prealps: a few millimetres of rain is possible.
Temperature
At midday at 2000 m, +6 °C.
Wind
Winds will be blowing at light to moderate strength, shifting from southerly to easterly directions.
Outlook through Saturday, 16.04.2022
In the northeastern regions more than anywhere else, nighttime skies on Thursday will frequently be overcast, thereby the outgoing longwave radiation will be reduced. During the night and then during Friday morning, a small amount of precipitation is possible. Later in the day it is expected to turn increasingly sunny. In the western and the southern regions, nocturnal skies will be clear and it will be predominantly sunny during the daytime on Friday. On Saturday, following a night of predominantly clear skies, it will be generally sunny.
The danger of dry-snow avalanches will continue to decrease. During the course of each day, wet-snow avalanches and, particularly on the northern Alpine Ridge also gliding avalanches can be expected. Tours in outlying terrain and ascents to mountain refuges should be launched early and brought to an end early.