Churfirsten and Rhine Valley
Appenzeller Alpen
Stable day. Low, with only wet snow named — visible where it sits, and easy to go round.
Day Risk Profile
Avalanche Problems
Wet snow
1
Field notes
Rolling snowballs, deep penetration when you step or ski, and small natural slides are clear signals that the Snow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary is losing strength. After a clear, cold night the surface often freezes into a strong supporting Layer of hard-compacted snow resulting from a melt-freeze process or wind.EAWS glossary, and conditions are favourable in the early morning. After a warm, overcast night, the problem may be present from the start of the day. Plan early returns and watch the runout zones below you.
Snowpack & Weather
Snowpack
In the regions south of a line Rhône - 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. The number of places where avalanches can be triggered by human activity in the weak layers of the Snow layers deposited from earlier precipitation, prior to fresh fallen snow. Old snow layers consist of metamorphosed snow crystals.EAWS glossary are continuing to decrease. However, avalanches may still become large.
In the regions north of a line Rhône - 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. Triggering by human activity is unlikely.
As a consequence of the falling temperatures, the continued moistening of the Snow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary and of the deeper 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 is slowing down. The probability of triggering Avalanche of wet snow masses. Flowing more slowly than dry avalanches; usually for shorter runout distances, however with greater impact on obstacles due to higher snow density.EAWS glossary increases only a little during the day. Gliding avalanche activity is continuing to decrease. Gliding avalanches can however become large, especially in the snowier west.
Weather review for Monday
Sunday night into Monday was mostly clear in the west and only partly clear in the east and south. During the day there was only a little sunshine on the southern flank of the Alps and on the eastern part of the northern flank of the Alps, while elsewhere it was mostly sunny.
Fresh snow
-
Temperature
At midday at 2000 m, around +2 °C
Wind
Light, occasionally moderate southerly
Weather forecast to Tuesday
Monday night into Tuesday will be mostly clear in the north. In the early morning, it will still be mostly sunny in this region. During the day, cloud cover will gradually increase from the west. As a result, rain showers are possible over the Jura. Along the Main Alpine Ridge and south of it the overnight, conditions will be mostly cloudy. During the day it will be mostly cloudy, especially on the central part of the southern flank of the Alps, with showers overnight to Tuesday and on Tuesday afternoon. It will be sunnier in southern Grisons.
Fresh snow
- A few centimetres on the central part of the Main Alpine Ridge above 1500 m
Temperature
At midday at 2000 m, between +1 °C in the north and -2 °C in the south
Wind
- From southerly directions
- Mostly light, sometimes moderate as the day progresses in the regions exposed to the foehn wind
Outlook to Thursday
Tuesday night into Wednesday will be partly cloudy. During the day it will be partly cloudy in the north with bright spells, especially in the inneralpine regions of Valais and Grisons. Showers are possible in the Jura and the Prealps. In the south, it will be mostly very cloudy with bright spells. Overnight to Thursday, it will be mostly overcast with widespread light snowfall above approximately 1400 m. During the day it will clear rapidly in the west and south, but it will only be partly sunny on the central and eastern parts of the northern flank of the Alps and in northern Grisons. There will be an often moderate wind at high altitudes, shifting from a southerly to a northerly.
The danger of dry avalanches will increase somewhat, especially on the northern Alpine ridge. In addition, the danger of wet and gliding avalanches will increase a little during the course of the day. Touring and off-piste descents should be completed in good time.