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 from the Rhône to the Rhine, 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 that have persisted since the beginning of January are still present. The number of places where human activity can trigger avalanches 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 has now decreased significantly. However, any avalanches may still become large.
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. Triggering by human activity is unlikely.
With temperatures falling, further moistening of the Snow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary and 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 has slowed down. Gliding avalanche activity has also decreased significantly over the last few days.
Weather review for Wednesday
Overnight to Wednesday, conditions were cloudy with clear intervals. There was a little precipitation on the northern and southern flanks of the Alps, falling as snow above approximately 1700 m. During the day, conditions were mostly sunny in the inneralpine regions of Valais and Grisons, while elsewhere, there were only sunny intervals and it was very cloudy on the southern flank of the Alps.
Fresh snow
Along the Prealps and on the southern flank of the Alps: a widespread few centimetres, locally up to 15 cm
Temperature
At midday at 2000 m, between +1 °C in the north and -1 °C in the south
Wind
Light to moderate southwesterly
Weather forecast to Thursday
Overnight to Thursday, conditions will be mostly cloudy, with some snowfall above approximately 1200 m. During the day, the west and south will gradually become sunny, while the central and eastern parts of the northern flank of the Alps and northern Grisons will see only sunny intervals.
Fresh snow
From Wednesday evening to Thursday morning, above 1500 m:
- extreme west of Lower Valais, northern flank of the Alps, Jura: 10 to 25 cm
- rest of Valais and northern Grisons: 5 to 10 cm
- elsewhere a widespread few centimetres
Temperature
At midday at 2000 m, between -2 °C in the north and +1 °C in the south
Wind
- During the night in the north initially moderate to strong from westerly directions, then easing and veering to the north
- Mostly light during the day
Outlook
Friday
Overnight to Friday, conditions will mostly be clear. During the day, it will be mostly sunny in the north, with sunny intervals in the south. With a freshening southwesterly wind, the north will become appreciably milder.
The danger of dry avalanches will not change significantly. The danger of wet and gliding avalanches will increase a little during the day, especially in the north. Touring and off-piste descents should be completed in good time.
Saturday
Overnight to Saturday, conditions will be mostly cloudy, with precipitation in the south. During the day, there will be widespread precipitation, with only the far east remaining dry. The snowfall level will drop from 1500 m to around 1100 m in the south and 700 m in the north. Around 20 to 40 cm of snow will fall on the central part of the main Alpine ridge and south of there by the evening; however, the amounts are still uncertain. There will be a light to moderate southerly wind.
The danger of dry avalanches will increase with the fresh snowfall, significantly on the central part of the main Alpine ridge and south of there, where naturally triggered avalanches will increasingly be possible.