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
In the regions 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 are now hardly triggerable by human activity.
In the regions 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 has decreased significantly. Isolated danger signs have still been observed in the last few days, particularly in Grisons, and dry avalanches have been triggered in deeper layers of the Snow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary, some of which were large.
The 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 lower part of the Snow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary are being weakened as they become moistened for the first time. Wet The abrupt release of a slab of snow on a mountain slope. After crack initiation and crack propagation in a weak layer the released slab comprises 3 elements: The weak layer, the gliding horizon and the slab. If the slope angle is steep enough, the slab will glide down. If the slope is not steep enough, the slab will settle down on the failed weak layer. Possibly a whumpf sound will follow due to air pressed out of the weak layer. The fracture line will be sharp edged.EAWS glossary are possible as the day progresses. These can occur naturally but can also be occasionally triggered by winter sports participants, at present mainly on sunny slopes below approximately 2600 m. Isolated gliding avalanches are also possible here.
Weather review for Saturday
After a mostly clear night, it was quite sunny. Visibility was obscured by Sahara dust.
Fresh snow
-
Temperature
At midday at 2000 m, around +5 °C in the west and +3 °C in the east and south.
Wind
Light to moderate during the night, mostly light during the day from southerly directions
Weather forecast to Sunday
The night will be mostly clear, and partly cloudy in the Jura and the south. During the day, it will be mostly sunny in the mountains, with patches of cloud, especially in the south. Visibility will still be obscured somewhat by Sahara dust. Cumulus clouds will form as the day progresses, especially in the Jura and the Prealps, and isolated rain showers will be possible. The snowfall level will be between 1800 m and 2000 m.
Fresh snow
-
Temperature
At midday at 2000 m, between +3 °C in the north and +1 °C in the south
Wind
Mostly light southerly to southeasterly winds, northeasterly winds in the Jura, freshening slightly during the course of the day
Outlook to Tuesday
The nights will be mostly clear in the north and partly cloudy in the south. During the day it will be mostly sunny in the north on both days with cumulus clouds as the day progresses. Isolated showers will be possible, especially in the Prealps and the Jura. The snowfall level will be between 1800 m and 2000 m. In the south, it will still be quite sunny on Monday, with variable cloud cover and light showers possible on Tuesday. The snowfall level will be between 1400 m and 1600 m in the south. The southerly winds will be mostly light, moderate at times.
The danger of dry avalanches will continue to decrease, but only slowly in Grisons due to the weak Snow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary structure. The danger of wet and gliding avalanches will increase somewhat as each day progresses. Touring and off-piste descents should be completed in good time.