Day Risk Profile

Low

Considerable

Later

Avalanche Problems

Dry avalanches, whole day

No distinct problem 1

N, NE, E, W, NW

above 2200m

Dry avalanches are unlikely to occcur. Very isolated Locations delineated by aspect or altitude where avalanches can trigger and people or objects are at risk.EAWS glossary are to be found in particular on extremely steep shady slopes at elevated altitudes.

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, S, W

below 2400m

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. In the regions where the outgoing longwave radiation during the night is reduced the danger will increase more quickly. Caution is to be exercised in particular on steep east, south and west facing slopes between approximately 2000 and 2800 m, as well as on steep north facing slopes below approximately 2400 m. Wet avalanches can additionally in some places be released by people. Avalanches can reach large size. 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

With the mild weather, partly overcast nights and rain in places, moistening of the Snow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary continued over the course of the last week. On south-facing slopes, the snowpack is water-saturated up to around 3000 m, and on east- and west-facing slopes up to 2500 to 2700 m, while on north-facing slopes it is water-saturated below 2000 m, with moistening progressing between 2000 and 2400 m.

In the south, fresh and drifted snow at high altitudes is in some places still prone to triggering, especially on shady slopes. Avalanches can also in some cases still be triggered by human activity in faceted 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. Such Locations delineated by aspect or altitude where avalanches can trigger and people or objects are at risk.EAWS glossary are generally located at altitudes where the Snow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary is becoming moist for the first time. In central Valais and in Grisons in particular, such avalanches can in some cases sweep away the entire snowpack, especially on slopes with light snow cover.

Weather review for Tuesday

Overnight to Tuesday, skies were often cloudy with some widespread precipitation. In the north, the snowfall level fell from 1800 m down to 1500 m, while in the south it was around 2000 m. It was very sunny over the course of the day on the southern flank of the Alps and in Areas above approximately 3000 m (particularly glaciated areas).EAWS glossary in the west, but often cloudy elsewhere.

Fresh snow

From Monday afternoon to Tuesday afternoon above approximately 2400 m:

main Alpine ridge in Upper Valais, western Ticino: 10 to 20 cm
elsewhere a widespread few centimetres

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, around +4 °C in the west and south and 0 °C in the northeast

Wind

Light to moderate southerly during the night, backing northeasterly during the day

Weather forecast to Wednesday

Overnight to Wednesday, there will be broken cloud in Grisons, with skies often clear elsewhere. It will be very sunny during the day. There is a possibility of isolated showers in the afternoon in the far south.

Fresh snow

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, around +5 °C

Wind

Light from variable directions

Outlook to Friday

Skies will only occasionally be clear overnight to Thursday. During the day, it will be mostly sunny in Valais and in the south with sunny intervals elsewhere. After a mostly clear night, it will be very sunny during the day on Friday. The wind will be light from variable directions on both days. The zero-degree level will remain between 2600 m and 3000 m during the day.

The danger of dry avalanches will continue to decrease. The danger of wet avalanches will increase over the course of each day. Off-piste skiing and hut ascents should be completed in good time.

Source

SLF

Issued

14 Apr 15:00 UTC

Valid until

15 Apr 15:00 UTC

Next update

15 Apr 15:00 UTC