Glarus and Walensee

Glarus Süd-Sernftal

Mon 15 Dec Sunrise 09:02 17:34 Overcast

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

Day Risk Profile

Moderate
All day

Avalanche Problems

Dry snow level 2 Wind slab dry All day
N, NE, E, W, NW
above 2600m
As a consequence of a strengthening southerly wind, mostly small wind slabs will form on Monday in some localities. They are to be evaluated with care and prudence. Additionally in isolated cases avalanches can also be released in the old snowpack and reach medium size. Caution is to be exercised in particular on very steep shady slopes, and at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack, when entering gullies and bowls for example.

Snowpack & Weather

Snowpack

In Lower Valais, northern Valais and the Bernese Oberland, there is as much snow at high altitudes as usual for this time of year, but less in other regions. There is particularly little snow on the southern flank of the Alps and at intermediate altitudes on the eastern part of the northern flank of the Alps. Weak layers in the snowpack are located in particular on northern and eastern slopes above approximately 2400 m. Hardly any avalanches have been triggered in the last four days, except in southern Lower Valais. Here, human activity has triggered isolated avalanches in the weak old snowpack.

Below approximately 2800 m, the surface of the snowpack is stable on very steep southern slopes, otherwise it is mostly brittle. Only on north-facing slopes sheltered from the wind is there still some loose, faceted snow at high altitudes. With increasing southerly winds, Monday will see small local snowdrift accumulations build up over the course of the day.

Isolated wet snow slides and gliding avalanches are possible with the sunshine and rising temperatures during the daytime.

Weather review for Sunday

Conditions were sunny and mild in the mountains.

Fresh snow

-

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, around +5 °C in the north and +3 °C in the south

Wind

Mostly light southwesterly to westerly winds

Weather forecast to Monday

It will be mostly sunny in the mountains, with high broken cloud gathering in the afternoon in the south-west and south.

Fresh snow

-

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, between +5 °C in the north and 0 °C in the south

Wind

  • Light to moderate south to southwesterly, becoming moderate to strong as the day progresses
  • Moderate to strong foehn wind from the south over the course of the day in the Alpine valleys on the northern flank of the Alps
Outlook

On Tuesday it will mostly be very cloudy with foehn-like bright spells in the east. Slight precipitation will set in on Tuesday morning on the main Alpine ridge in Valais and in the south and will continue until Wednesday morning. The snowfall level will rise from 1200 m on Tuesday to around 1600 m on Wednesday. Five to 10 cm of snowfall is expected, with up to 20 cm from Saas to the Simplon Pass and locally in north-western Ticino. There will be a moderate to strong southerly wind, with a moderate to strong foehn wind from the south in the Alpine valleys on the northern flank of the Alps. On Wednesday, conditions will be mostly sunny in the west and Valais and there will be sunny intervals in the east. It will be mostly very cloudy in the south. Winds will generally die down and be mostly light.

Avalanche danger will increase slightly on Tuesday with fresh snow in the south and drifting snow in the north. The danger will not change significantly on Wednesday.

Issued

14 Dec 15:33 UTC

Valid until

15 Dec 16:00 UTC

Next update

15 Dec 16:00 UTC

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