Vaud Alps
Waadtländer Voralpen
Avalanche Problems
Wet snow + Gliding snow
1
Field notes
Wet snow
Rolling snowballs, deep penetration when you step or ski, and small natural slides are clear signals that the Snow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary is losing strength. After a clear, cold night the surface often freezes into a strong supporting Layer of hard-compacted snow resulting from a melt-freeze process or wind.EAWS glossary, and conditions are favourable in the early morning. After a warm, overcast night, the problem may be present from the start of the day. Plan early returns and watch the runout zones below you.
Gliding snow
Almost impossible to predict precisely, even when the warning signs are visible. A crack visible on the snowpack surface formed by snow-gliding on steep, and particularly grass-covered slopes. Areas below slopes with visible glide cracks should be avoided whenever possible due to threat of gliding sluffs or avalanches.EAWS glossary — gaps that open in the Snow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary down to the ground — are often precursors to release, but they don't tell you when. A glide avalanche can release minutes after the cracks appear, or weeks later, or not at all. Some release without any visible warning. Avoid lingering anywhere near glide cracks: above them, alongside them, or below in the runout.
Snowpack & Weather
Snowpack
The last few day’s new and drifted snow has stabilised well. However, this snow is lying on sometimes weakly bonded old snow. Snowpack layer in which the crystals are poorly bonded and the layer has the potential to fail. Typical crystals in dry weak layers causing avalanches are : precipitation particles; surface hoar; faceted crystals; hollow crystals; graupel. Generally >1mm in size, loose grains with few bonds Wet weak layers can be formed by all snow crystal/grain types.EAWS glossary in the Snow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary are located in particular on northern and sometimes on eastern slopes above around 2400 m. On the northern flank of the Alps, they are sometimes directly beneath the new and drifted snow layers and sometimes also in the middle of the snowpack. In inneralpine regions and in northern Grisons, they are sometimes also in the lower part of the snowpack.
The Snow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary has been moistened by rain below 2400 m and is saturated up to around 2100 m. Isolated Avalanche of wet snow masses. Flowing more slowly than dry avalanches; usually for shorter runout distances, however with greater impact on obstacles due to higher snow density.EAWS glossary are possible with the sunshine and rising temperatures during the daytime. Isolated gliding avalanches are still possible.
Weather review for Tuesday
After a mostly clear night, conditions were mainly sunny in the mountains during the day.
Fresh snow
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Temperature
At midday at 2000 m, between +8°C in the north and +5°C in the south.
Wind
Mostly light to moderate from southwesterly directions
Weather forecast to Wednesday
After a mostly clear night, conditions will be sunny and mild.
Fresh snow
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Temperature
At midday at 2000 m, around +4°C
Wind
Light to moderate southwesterly
Outlook
After a sometimes cloudy night, there will be some sunny intervals on Thursday. Friday will be mainly sunny after a clear night. Temperatures will remain mild with a light to moderate southwesterly wind.
The danger of dry avalanches is decreasing, although only very slowly in areas with a persistent Snowpack layer in which the crystals are poorly bonded and the layer has the potential to fail. Typical crystals in dry weak layers causing avalanches are : precipitation particles; surface hoar; faceted crystals; hollow crystals; graupel. Generally >1mm in size, loose grains with few bonds Wet weak layers can be formed by all snow crystal/grain types.EAWS glossary problem. The danger of wet avalanches follows a daily cycle and increases slightly over the course of the day. On steep grassy slopes, isolated glide-snow avalanches are possible.