Churfirsten and Rhine Valley
Appenzeller Alpen
Stable day. Low, with gliding snow buried out of sight — few places, and nothing at the surface to mark them.
Day Risk Profile
Avalanche Problems
Gliding snow
1
Field notes
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
North of a line from the Rhône to the Rhine and in the extreme west of Lower Valais, 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 deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary are mostly thickly covered and can only rarely be triggered by human activity.
South of a line from the Rhône to the Rhine, the persistent 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 that have been a feature since the beginning of January are still present. However, the number of avalanche-prone locations is decreasing. Reports of avalanches and alarm signs indicate that the situation in central and southern Grisons remains the most precarious. In southern Valais, the pronounced weak layers in the lower part of the Snow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary are mostly more thickly covered. Avalanche-prone locations where avalanches can be triggered in the weak Snow layers deposited from earlier precipitation, prior to fresh fallen snow. Old snow layers consist of metamorphosed snow crystals.EAWS glossary are therefore less numerous there and are mainly located in areas with relatively little snow.
Snow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary surface freezing will be poor during the overcast night to Sunday. Despite falling temperatures, individual gliding avalanches remain possible on steep grassy slopes.
Weather review for Saturday
After the passage of cloud during the night, Saturday was mostly sunny and mild in the mountains throughout the day.
Fresh snow
-
Temperature
At midday at 2000 m between +4 °C in Valais and Grisons and +2 °C on the northern and southern flanks of the Alps
Wind
Mostly light from southerly directions
Weather forecast to Sunday
The night to Sunday will be mostly very cloudy with a little precipitation in the north. The west will be very sunny in the morning, while the east will see more bright spells In the afternoon. On the southern flank of the Alps, conditions will be overcast with a little precipitation.
Fresh snow
Along the Prealps above 1200 m and on the central part of the southern flank of the Alps above 1500 m: a few centimetres
Temperature
At midday at 2000 m around 0 °C
Wind
Mostly light from southerly directions, occasionally moderate at high altitudes
Outlook to Tuesday
Overnight to Monday conditions will be overcast on the southern flank of the Alps with a little snowfall above 1500 m into the morning. There will be brighter intervals later on. Other regions will be sunny after a clear night. On Tuesday conditions will generally be mostly sunny. Winds will be mostly light on both days.
The danger of dry avalanches will decrease, but only slowly in southern Valais, Ticino and particularly in Grisons due to the pronounced 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. Gliding avalanches will still be possible in isolated cases.