Bernese Oberland
Hohgant
Stable day. Low, with wet snow and gliding snow named together — one of them visible at the surface, the other buried.
Day Risk Profile
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
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. At present, this is mainly affecting north-facing slopes between approximately 2200 and 2500 m, and east- and west-facing slopes between approximately 2500 and 2800 m. In many places, south-facing slopes are snow-free up to around 3000 m; where there is still snow, it is saturated as far as the Areas above approximately 3000 m (particularly glaciated areas).EAWS glossary.
In the north above approximately 2000 m, the mainly clear overnight conditions are resulting in the formation of a load-bearing Layer of hard-compacted snow resulting from a melt-freeze process or wind.EAWS glossary, which softens over the course of the day. There is less outgoing longwave radiation in the south with only a thin crust being formed.
Weather review for Wednesday
There was widespread precipitation overnight to Wednesday. There were clear spells in the west during the day; elsewhere it was very cloudy with showers. The snowfall level was between 2000 and 2300 m.
Fresh snow
From Tuesday afternoon to Wednesday afternoon, there was a widespread 5 to 15 cm of fresh snow above 2500 m
Temperature
At noon at 2000 m, between +8 °C in the west and +4 °C in the east and south
Wind
Light from southerly directions, occasionally moderate in the north
Weather forecast to Thursday
In the north, the night into Thursday will be mostly clear while during the day it will be mostly sunny. In the south, there will only be clear spells overnight. Conditions will become increasingly sunny over the course of the day.
Fresh snow
-
Temperature
At midday at 2000 m, around +6 °C in the north and +2 °C in the south
Wind
Mostly light; in the Areas above approximately 3000 m (particularly glaciated areas).EAWS glossary occasionally moderate from northerly directions
Outlook to Saturday
After clear nights, conditions will be mainly sunny on both days. Clouds will move in from the northwest on Saturday afternoon and there is a possibility of isolated showers. Winds will mostly be light. The zero-degree level will be around 3000 m.
Conditions will be favourable each morning. The danger of wet avalanches will increase somewhat over the course of the day.