Wet avalanches at high altitude. Dry avalanches in high Alpine regions
Edition: 2.5.2022, 17:00 / Next update: 3.5.2022, 18:00
Snowpack
In particular on north facing slopes in the high Alpine regions, in isolated cases dry avalanches can still be released in near-surface layers of the snowpack.
The old snowpack is thoroughly moist up to elevated altitudes in the high Alpine regions on south facing slopes, below approximately 3000 m on west and east facing slopes, and below approximately 2600 m on north facing slopes. As a consequence of mostly overcast weather, further moisture will penetrate the snowpack only slowly.
Observed weather on Monday, 02.05.2022
On Sunday evening a little snow fell locally in showers. During the night the skies cleared. Monday was sunny at first. In the afternoon convective cloud built up, followed by local showers.
Fresh snow
Above approximately 2000 m: a few centimetres locally
Temperature
At midday at 2000 m: about +5 °C over a wide area, but about +2 °C in the northeast
Wind
Light
Weather forecast through Tuesday, 03.05.2022
During the night extensive high-altitude cloud will reduce the outgoing longwave radiation, and a few centimetres of snow will fall in the south. During the day it will be cloudy with bright spells. These will be mostly brief, but along the Prealps and in northern Ticino in the morning sometimes prolonged. In the afternoon a little precipitation will fall in showers in some regions.
Fresh snow
With a snowfall level of approximately 2200 m, the following amounts of snow will fall:
  • Ticino: 5 to 10 cm
  • Elsewhere: a few centimetres in some regions
Temperature
At midday at 2000 m: about +5 °C over a wide area, but about +3 °C in the south
Wind
Light
Outlook through Thursday, 05.05.2022
The weather will be mostly cloudy. Therefore the snow surface will barely be able to freeze below approximately 2600 m. On each of the coming days approximately 5 to 10 cm of snow will fall. Given the showery nature of the snowfall and scattered thunderstorms on Thursday, larger amounts are also possible locally. On Wednesday in the high Alpine regions the wind will be sometimes moderate from the southwest. On Thursday the wind in the north will be sometimes moderate from the west; in the south in the afternoon a strong northerly wind will develop.
The danger of dry avalanches will increase a little in the high Alpine regions. Isolated wet snow avalanches can occur throughout the day, in particular on north facing slopes below approximately 2600 m.