Vaud Alps
Jaun
Avalanche Problems
Wind slab
2-
Field notes
Look for fresh snow deposits on Slope facing downwind/ wind sheltered aspect. Snow deposits can attain several times average snow depth.EAWS glossary, in Usually a steep, elongated, eroded trench; typically prone to snowdrift accumulation.EAWS glossary and Rounded or elongated concavity; typically tending to accumulate snowdrift.EAWS glossary, and behind ridgelines and abrupt changes in terrain — these are where the wind has loaded the snow into slabs that are easy to trigger. Recent avalanches, shooting cracks under your weight, and Distinctive noise (resembling a “whumpf” sound) occurring when a weak layer beneath a slab collapses. The air of the weak layer is forced outside the snowpack, with the resulting whumpf sound being heard. The sound usually indicates an unstable situation and can be accompanied by surface cracking. A whumpf is a clear avalanche alert.EAWS glossary sounds are clear confirmations of the problem. The safest move is to avoid wind-loaded terrain entirely. NB wind signs alone don't always mean an avalanche problem exists, and the age of drifted snow is hard to judge.
Snowpack & Weather
Snowpack
On the northern flank of the Alps, the new and drifted snow of the last few days cover cover, at higher elevations on shaded, wind-sheltered slopes, an often faceted and therefore weak old snow surface. Elsewhere, the snow surface was often shaped by the wind and frequently frozen solid below 2400 m.
In western and northern Lower Valais, the Snow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary structure is relatively favourable and the danger comes mainly from fresh drifted snow.
In other regions, the Snow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary is thin and weak, and mostly consists of Snow grains, solid, with multiple flat glassy faces and sharp edges. Developed from faceting metamorphism, usually poorly bonded to one another (fewer contact points), a critical factor in avalanches if a faceted layer is covered with bonded snow. Typical grain size: 0.5 to 3 mm See also: www.snowcrystals.itEAWS glossary with embedded crusts. Snowdrift accumulations deposited on top of this snowpack are in some cases easily triggerable. In addition, individual avalanches may still be triggered in the near-ground Snow layers deposited from earlier precipitation, prior to fresh fallen snow. Old snow layers consist of metamorphosed snow crystals.EAWS glossary, especially on the Main Alpine Ridge in Upper Valais and on the central part of the southern flank of the Alps.
Weather review for Sunday
A few snowflakes fell locally during the night. During the day conditions were sunny but cold.
Fresh snow
-
Temperature
At midday at 2000 m, around -9°C
Wind
- Moderate, locally strong westerly; northerly in the south
- Subsiding over the course of the day
Weather forecast to Monday
In the mountains conditions will be mostly sunny but cold.
Fresh snow
-
Temperature
At midday at 2000 m, around -11°C
Wind
Light
Outlook to Wednesday
Conditions will remain sunny and cold. The northerly wind will be light at first, then moderate to strong on Wednesday at higher altitudes and in the south.
The unfavourable Snow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary structure means that avalanche danger will decrease only very slowly.