Snowpack

Whereas rain fell at intermediate altitudes and moist snow fell at high altitudes, various fresh snow and wind slab layers of recent days are lying on top of each other in the high Alpine regions. The main danger of dry avalanches arises from these layers.
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 Tuesday, 03.05.2022

The night was partly clear along the Prealps, otherwise mostly overcast, and in the south there was snowfall above approximately 2000 m. On Tuesday morning it was partly sunny in the western part of the northern flank of the Alps, along the Prealps and in Lower Engadine, otherwise very cloudy with scattered showers.

Fresh snow

From Monday afternoon until Tuesday afternoon the following amounts of snow fell above approximately 2500 m:

Ticino to the south of the main Alpine ridge: 20 to 30 cm
From the Monte Rosa massif into the Simplon region, other regions in the central part of the main Alpine ridge, Val Bregaglia: 10 to 20 cm
Elsewhere: less than 10 cm

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m: about +3 °C

Wind

Mostly light from southerly directions

Weather forecast through Wednesday, 04.05.2022

The night will be very cloudy, but there will be bright spells during the second half of the night in the west. In the morning it will be partly sunny in the west, otherwise Wednesday will be mostly cloudy. A little precipitation will fall frequently in the south and Grisons, and in the other regions in particular on Tuesday evening and again on Wednesday afternoon. The snowfall level will fluctuate between 2000 and 2300 m.

Fresh snow

From Tuesday afternoon until Wednesday afternoon the following amounts of snow will fall above approximately 2500 m:

From the Monte Rosa massif to the Simplon Pass, Ticino, Moesano, main Alpine ridge from Avers to the Bernina Pass: 10 to 20 cm
Elsewhere: less than 10 cm

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m: about +5 °C in the west and about +3 °C in the east and south

Wind

Light, becoming moderate in the high Alpine regions as the day progresses, from the southwest

Outlook through Friday, 06.05.2022

Thursday

During the very cloudy night the snow surface will barely be able to freeze below approximately 2500 m. Cloud will persist during the day as well, but there will be bright spells in the west in the morning. Approximately 10 to 20 cm of snow is expected to fall above 2100 m, but the amounts remain uncertain. In the high Alpine regions the wind during the day will be moderate and change direction from southerly to northerly.
The danger of dry avalanches will increase as a consequence of fresh snow. Depending on the amount of precipitation, danger level 3 (considerable) may be reached in the high Alpine regions over a wide area. In particular in the west, the bright spells may give rise to isolated wet snow avalanches.

Friday

During the night the skies will clear from the west, but the far east will remain cloudy. During the day the west will be quite sunny and the east partly sunny. In the afternoon convective cloud will build up and there will be scattered showers. The wind will be light to moderate from the north.
The danger of dry avalanches will not change significantly. As the day progresses, moist snow slides originating from the fresh snow are to be expected, and the danger of wet snow avalanches will increase as well.