Day Risk Profile

Low

Considerable

Later

Avalanche Problems

Dry avalanches, whole day

No distinct problem 1

N, NE, E, NW

above 2600m

Dry avalanches can in isolated cases be released in near-surface layers. This applies in particular on extremely steep north and east facing slopes in Areas above approximately 3000 m (particularly glaciated areas).EAWS glossary. Mostly the avalanches are small. 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. The Avalanche Warning Service currently has only a small amount of information that has been collected in the field, so that the avalanche danger should be investigated especially thoroughly in the relevant locality.

Field notes

SLF uses this label when no single problem dominates the assessment, often on lower-danger days. It doesn't mean conditions are safe: any avalanche type is still possible, and normal caution applies. On stable days this is usually a signal to enjoy the mountains with general awareness; on less-stable days where the assessment is still inconclusive, it's a signal to be cautious specifically because there's no clear pattern to follow.

Source: SLF Avalanche Bulletin Interpretation Guide

Wet-snow avalanches, as the day progresses

Wet snow 3

N, E, W

The surface of the Snow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary will only just freeze and will soften earlier than the day before. As a consequence of warming during the day and solar radiation more frequent natural wet avalanches are to be expected as the day progresses, even large ones in isolated cases. This applies in particular on steep north facing slopes between approximately 2200 and 2600 m, as well as on very steep east and west facing slopes between approximately 2500 and 3000 m. Backcountry tours and ascents to alpine cabins should be started early and concluded timely.

Field notes

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.

Source: SLF Avalanche Bulletin Interpretation Guide

Snowpack & Weather

Snowpack

Saturation of the Snow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary is well advanced. The most precarious areas are slopes where 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 layers deposited from earlier precipitation, prior to fresh fallen snow. Old snow layers consist of metamorphosed snow crystals.EAWS glossary are becoming wet for the first time. As the weather becomes wetter, this is mainly affecting north-facing slopes between approximately 2200 and 2600 m, but in isolated cases also east- and west-facing slopes between approximately 2500 and 3000 m. Many steep south-facing slopes are snow-free up to around 3000 m and where there is still snow, it is saturated to the Areas above approximately 3000 m (particularly glaciated areas).EAWS glossary.

Over the often cloudy night into Sunday, the surface of the Snow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary will barely freeze, even at high altitudes.

Weather review for Saturday

The night was very clear, the day mostly sunny.

Fresh snow

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m a mild +10 °C

Wind

Mainly light

Weather forecast to Sunday

Overnight to Sunday, it will be mostly cloudy in the west, with patchy cloud in the south and east. A foehn wind from the south will pick up over the course of the day. In the west and south, it will be cloudy with some bright spells, and isolated showers are possible in the afternoon. In the east, it will be mostly sunny.

Fresh snow

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, between +8 °C in the north and +5 °C in the south

Wind

Over the course of the day, moderate southerly with a foehn wind in the valleys of the north

Outlook

Monday

Conditions will be cloudy, with bright spells in the east. There will be some precipitation on the main Alpine ridge over the course of the day, falling as snow above approximately 2300 m. There will be a moderate to strong southerly wind, with a foehn wind in the valleys of the north.

The danger of dry avalanches will increase slightly in the Areas above approximately 3000 m (particularly glaciated areas).EAWS glossary on the main Alpine ridge in Valais. Due to reduced outgoing longwave radiation overnight, there will be a possibility of wet avalanches, especially on north-facing slopes, from the morning onwards.

Tuesday

After a partly clear night, conditions will often be cloudy during the day and snow will fall above approximately 2300 m, most heavily in the south with around 10 cm. In the northeast, conditions will be very sunny and dry. The southwesterly wind will gradually subside.

The danger of dry avalanches will increase slightly in the south and west. Especially in the northeast, there is a possibility of wet avalanches on north-facing slopes as the day progresses.

Source

SLF

Issued

2 May 15:00 UTC

Valid until

3 May 15:00 UTC

Next update

3 May 15:00 UTC