Bernese Oberland

Blüemlisalp

Sun 22 Mar Sunrise 07:27 19:43 Heavy snow

Manageable day. Moderate to considerable danger — read the terrain carefully.

Day Risk Profile

Considerable
All day

Avalanche Problems

Dry snow level 3 Wind slab dry All day
N, NE, E, W, NW
above 2400m
As a consequence of new snow and a moderate southerly wind, wind slabs will form in particular at elevated altitudes. In addition the older wind slabs are prone to triggering in some cases still. Single winter sport participants can release avalanches. These can reach medium size. Caution is to be exercised in particular adjacent to ridgelines and in pass areas, as well as in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. Experience in the assessment of avalanche danger is required.

Snowpack & Weather

Snowpack

With the new fallen snow and southerly wind, snowdrift accumulations will form, some of which are prone to triggering. These are little more prevalent and larger along the Main Alpine Ridge. Elsewhere, they are mostly small.

In some places, surface hoar that has been covered by snow is present in the uppermost section of the snowpack, particularly on shady slopes. In this weak layer, avalanches have continued to be triggered in recent days, especially in southern Valais and in Grisons.

In the weak layers near the ground, isolated avalanches have continued to be triggered recently, especially in the inneralpine regions and southern parts of Grisons. In the other regions, there are still weak layers in the near-ground old snowpack in some places on shady slopes, but they are mostly so thickly covered that they are hardly prone to triggering.

Weather review for Saturday

During the night it was partly cloudy in the east and south, and outgoing longwave radiation was somewhat reduced. During the day there were some bright spells in the west, in Valais and in Grisons, while elsewhere it was mostly cloudy.

Fresh snow

-

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, between 0 °C in the west and -2 °C in the east and south

Wind

Mostly light from northerly directions

Weather forecast to Sunday

During the night a little snow will fall over a wide area. During the day, snow will continue to fall, primarily in the west and in the south. During the day it will be quite sunny in the east. In the Bernese Oberland, in Valais and in the Engadine there will be increasing bright spells. In the south and in the far west it will often remain cloudy.

Fresh snow

From Saturday afternoon to Sunday afternoon, the following amounts of snow will fall above approximately 1500 m:

  • Main Alpine Ridge in Upper Valais, directly on the border with Italy, western Ticino: 15 to 30 cm
  • Extreme west of Lower Valais and remaining Main Alpine Ridge and to the south of it: 5 to 15 cm
  • Elsewhere a widespread few centimetres

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, around -2 °C in the north and -5 °C in the south

Wind

Moderate southerly wind along the Main Alpine Ridge and along the northern Alpine ridgeline. A moderate foehn wind in some places in the northern Alpine valleys, elsewhere mostly light

Outlook to Tuesday

On Monday it will be mostly cloudy from the Bernese Oberland to eastern Switzerland. A small amount of snow will fall in showers above approximately 1200 m. Elsewhere there will be prolonged bright spells. Conditions will be sunny in the south. On Tuesday it will be sunny after a clear night. On Monday, there will be a moderate northerly wind at high altitudes. On Tuesday the wind will be mostly light. The zero-degree level will be just below 2000 m on Monday and at 2000 m on Tuesday.

The avalanche danger will not change significantly for Monday. Particularly in the south, snowdrift accumulations prone to triggering will form with a northerly wind in some places. On Tuesday the avalanche danger will decrease. Wet and gliding avalanches are still hardly to be expected.

Issued

22 Mar 07:00 UTC

Valid until

22 Mar 16:00 UTC

Next update

22 Mar 16:00 UTC

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