Bernese Oberland
Hohgant
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.
Gliding snow
2=
Field notes
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
Snow depths are above average in the west and north, where there is a widespread 150 to 200% of the usual amount of snow. In other regions, there is a widespread 50 to 100%, of the usual amount of snow and less than 50% on the southern flank of the Alps.
Especially on shady slopes above approximately 2400 m and generally in the Areas above approximately 3000 m (particularly glaciated areas).EAWS glossary, there are faceted, long-lasting 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 deep in the Snow layers deposited from earlier precipitation, prior to fresh fallen snow. Old snow layers consist of metamorphosed snow crystals.EAWS glossary. In many places in western and northern regions with heavy snow, these layers are overlaid with deep fresh snow and so can no longer be easily triggered by winter sport participants. However, any avalanches that are triggered in these deep layers can still become large, as has been clear from the avalanches in recent days. In regions with little fresh snow, avalanches can more easily be triggered in deep layers of old snow and will usually be of medium size.
Small to medium gliding avalanches are still to be expected in the west and north.
Weather review for Sunday
Conditions were cloudy but mostly dry on Sunday
Fresh snow
-
Temperature
At midday at 2000 m in the east around +1°C
Wind
Winds were mostly light and occasionally moderate from the south.
Weather forecast to Monday
There will be little snowfall overnight to Monday, except in the very south. The snowfall level will drop from 1500 m to 800 m. Some clouds will remain along the Prealps and in the east during the day. Conditions will be sunny in the west and generally at high altitude. Clouds will gather in the south as the day progresses.
Fresh snow
From Sunday afternoon to Monday morning above approximately 1600 m:
- northern flank of the Alps: 5 to 10 cm
- other regions less or dry
Temperature
At midday at 2000 m, around -2°C
Wind
Mostly light from southerly directions
Outlook
On Tuesday and Wednesday there will be low stratus cloud in the north with only occasional sunny spells due to the broken, higher altitude cloud cover. Most of the sunshine will be in the east with a slight tendency towards foehn winds. Conditions will be mainly cloudy on both days on the southern flank of the Alps. A few centimetres of snow may fall above approximately 1400 m on Wednesday. There will be a light to moderate southerly wind on both days.
Avalanche risk will continue to fall. Avalanches, possibly large, may still be triggered in the Snow layers deposited from earlier precipitation, prior to fresh fallen snow. Old snow layers consist of metamorphosed snow crystals.EAWS glossary, especially on steep shady slopes at high altitudes. Gliding avalanches are still possible in regions with deep snow in the west and north.