Vaud Alps

Bex-Villars

Fri 17 Apr Sunrise 06:41 20:21 Overcast

Widespread danger. Considerable danger across many aspects, elevations, or problems.

Day Risk Profile

Low
All day
Considerable
Later

Avalanche Problems

Dry snow level 1 No distinct problem dry All day
All aspects
above 2400m
Dry avalanches can in isolated cases be released by people and reach medium size. The number and size of avalanche prone locations will increase in the high Alpine regions. Caution is to be exercised in particular on extremely steep slopes. Apart from the danger of being buried, restraint should be exercised as well in view of the danger of avalanches sweeping people along and giving rise to falls.
Wet snow level 3 Wet snow wet Later
As the day progresses as a consequence of warming during the day and solar radiation there will be an increase in the danger of wet avalanches. Caution is to be exercised in particular on steep north facing slopes below approximately 2400 m, as well as on steep east, south and west facing slopes between approximately 2500 and 3000 m. Wet avalanches can release the entire snowpack and reach very large size in isolated cases. Backcountry tours and ascents to alpine cabins should be started early and concluded timely.

Snowpack & Weather

Snowpack

With the mild weather, moistening of the snowpack is at an advanced stage. On south-facing slopes, the snowpack is moist up to around 3000 m, on east- and west-facing slopes up to 2500 to 2700 m, and on north-facing slopes up to around 2000 m. Initial moistening of near-ground weak layers is now reaching around 2200 to 2400 m on north-facing slopes, and 2700 m on west- and east-facing slopes, and it is especially on these aspects and at these altitudes that large and occasionally even very large wet slab avalanches may be triggered naturally. The weak layers in the old snowpack in Grisons in particular are the least deeply buried, and it is here that wet slab avalanches are most likely also to be triggered by human activity. Whumpfing sounds continue to be a possible indication of a weak snowpack.

At higher altitudes, where the snowpack is still dry, avalanches can in some places also still be triggered in the dry old snowpack or in layers closer to the surface.

Weather review for Thursday

Overnight to Thursday, skies were only occasionally clear. During the day, conditions were mostly sunny in the high mountains and towards the south and increasingly sunny elsewhere.

Fresh snow

-

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, between +8 °C in the west and south and +3 °C in the east

Wind

  • Overnight to Thursday, moderate westerly at times at high altitudes
  • Mostly light during the day
Weather forecast to Friday

Skies will be clear overnight to Friday, and during the day conditions will be mostly sunny with high cloud developing as the day progresses and some cumulus clouds in the afternoon.

Fresh snow

-

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, around +6 °C

Wind

Light from northerly directions

Outlook to Sunday

The night to Saturday will mostly be clear. During the day, conditions will be mostly sunny with cumulus clouds in the afternoon and scattered showers. The zero-degree level will remain at around 3000 m. Skies will only occasionally be clear overnight to Sunday. During the day, there will be only occasional sunshine, with increasing showers in the north. The snowfall level will be around 2300 m.

The danger of dry avalanches will not change significantly. The avalanche situation will generally be favourable in the morning, but each day, the danger of wet avalanches will increase as the day progresses. Off-piste skiing and hut ascents should be completed in good time.

Issued

16 Apr 15:00 UTC

Valid until

17 Apr 15:00 UTC

Next update

17 Apr 15:00 UTC

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