Gotthard area

Schächental

Wed 10 Dec Sunrise 09:00 17:36 Overcast

Hard-to-read day. Persistent or gliding-snow problems can mask the real risk.

Day Risk Profile

Moderate
All day

Avalanche Problems

Dry snow level 2 Persistent weak layers dry All day
N, NE, E, SE, W, NW
above 2400m
Avalanches can be released in the weakly bonded old snow by a single winter sport participant. Mostly avalanches are medium-sized. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in areas where the snow cover is rather shallow and at transitions into gullies and bowls. Whumpfing sounds can indicate the danger. Backcountry touring and other off-piste activities call for careful route selection.
Wet snow level 2 Wet snow + Gliding snow wet All day
SE, S, SW, W
below 2400m
The snowpack will be moist below approximately 2400 m. As a consequence of warming during the day and solar radiation individual wet avalanches are possible as the day progresses, even medium-sized ones. In addition individual small to medium-sized gliding avalanches are possible. Areas with glide cracks are to be avoided as far as possible.

Snowpack & Weather

Snowpack

The last few day’s new and drifted snow has stabilised well. However, this snow is lying on sometimes weakly bonded old snow. Weak layers in the snowpack are located in particular on northern and sometimes on eastern slopes above around 2400 m. On the northern flank of the Alps, they are sometimes directly beneath the new and drifted snow layers and sometimes also in the middle of the snowpack. In inneralpine regions and in northern Grisons, they are sometimes also in the lower part of the snowpack.

The snowpack has been moistened by rain below 2400 m and is saturated up to around 2100 m. Isolated wet snow avalanches are possible with the sunshine and rising temperatures during the daytime. Isolated gliding avalanches are still possible.

Weather review for Tuesday

After a mostly clear night, conditions were mainly sunny in the mountains during the day.

Fresh snow

-

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, between +8°C in the north and +5°C in the south.

Wind

Mostly light to moderate from southwesterly directions

Weather forecast to Wednesday

After a mostly clear night, conditions will be sunny and mild.

Fresh snow

-

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, around +4°C

Wind

Light to moderate southwesterly

Outlook

After a sometimes cloudy night, there will be some sunny intervals on Thursday. Friday will be mainly sunny after a clear night. Temperatures will remain mild with a light to moderate southwesterly wind.

The danger of dry avalanches is decreasing, although only very slowly in areas with a persistent weak layer problem. The danger of wet avalanches follows a daily cycle and increases slightly over the course of the day. On steep grassy slopes, isolated glide-snow avalanches are possible.

Issued

9 Dec 16:45 UTC

Valid until

10 Dec 16:00 UTC

Next update

10 Dec 16:00 UTC

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