In the early morning a generally favourable avalanche situation will prevail. Wet avalanches during the day
Edition: 14.4.2022, 17:00 / Next update: 15.4.2022, 18:00
Snowpack
Isolated avalanche prone locations for dry-snow avalanches occur on north-facing slopes above approximately 2200 m more than anywhere else. The process of the snowpack becoming ever wetter continues apace. South-facing slopes are thoroughly wet up into high alpine regions, west-facing and east-facing slopes are wet below approximately 3000 m, north-facing slopes below approximately 2200 m.
During nocturnal hours the moist snowpack surface freezes and forms a melt-freeze crust which in western and southern regions is capable of bearing loads over widespread areas. In the eastern regions the snowpack surface cannot form a crust due to overcast skies, i.e. lack of outgoing longwave radiation. During the course of the day the crust thaws and the snowpack forfeits its stability.
Observed weather on Thursday, 14.04.2022
Nighttime skies on Wednesday were predominantly clear. During the daytime hours it was generally sunny. During the course of the day there was convective cloud build-up, initially in the western regions, subsequently also in the northern regions.
Fresh snow
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Temperature
At midday at 2000 m, +8 °C.
Wind
Winds were light.
Weather forecast through Friday, 15.04.2022
Nocturnal skies on Thursday will be predominantly clear in the western and the southern regions, in the eastern regions generally overcast and a small amount of snowfall is anticipated above 2400 m. During the daytime on Good Friday it will be generally sunny in the western and the southern regions, in the eastern regions skies will frequently still be overcast.
Fresh snow
In the central and eastern sectors of the northern flank of the Alps, a few centimetres of fresh snow is expected above 2400 m.
Temperature
At midday at 2000 m, between +5 °C in the northern regions and +8 °C in the southern regions.
Wind
Winds are expected to be blowing at light to moderate strength from northerly directions.
Outlook through Sunday, 17.04.2022
Nighttime skies on Friday will be partially overcast in the eastern regions, in the other regions skies will be generally clear. During the daytime on Saturday, skies will be variably cloudy in eastern regions, in the other regions generally sunny. On Easter Sunday it will be sunny, following a night of clear skies, and somewhat less mild, due to prevailing bise wind.
During the night on Friday, somewhat reduced outgoing longwave radiation is expected in the eastern regions. Nevertheless, the avalanche situation will be generally favourable in the early morning hours. As a consequence of daytime warming and solar radiation, wet-snow and gliding avalanches are possible. Backcountry tours and ascents to mountain refuges should be launched early in the day and brought to an end sufficiently early.
Isolated avalanche prone locations for dry-snow avalanches are located on very steep north-facing slopes in high alpine regions more than anywhere else.