Churfirsten and Rhine Valley
Appenzeller Alpen
Stable day. Low, and the bulletin names no distinct problem — the ordinary care that steep terrain always needs.
Day Risk Profile
Avalanche Problems
No distinct problem
1
Field notes
SLF uses this label when no single problem dominates the assessment, often on lower-danger days. It doesn't mean conditions are safe: any avalanche type is still possible, and normal caution applies. On stable days this is usually a signal to enjoy the mountains with general awareness; on less-stable days where the assessment is still inconclusive, it's a signal to be cautious specifically because there's no clear pattern to follow.
Snowpack & Weather
Snowpack
Near-surface layers on wind-protected shady slopes are lying on Transparent, frequently flat crystals forming on the snowpack when moist air settles on the surface. It forms most often during cold, clear, humid nights. Once it is blanketed by fresh fallen snow, surface hoar is one of the most critical weak layer. See also: www.snowcrystals.itEAWS glossary in places. There are continued reports of avalanches being triggered in this 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. Over the course of this week, snowdrift accumulations have formed with wind from varying directions, some of which are still prone to triggering in isolated cases.
In the inneralpine regions of Valais and Grisons, the layers of fresh and drifted snow are also lying on a weak Snow layers deposited from earlier precipitation, prior to fresh fallen snow. Old snow layers consist of metamorphosed snow crystals.EAWS glossary with pronounced near-ground 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. Avalanches can propagate into these deep weak layers in isolated cases or can be triggered directly in deep layers. In the other regions, there are still weak layers in the near-ground old snowpack in some places on shady slopes, but they are mostly so thickly covered that they are hardly prone to triggering.
Weather review for Friday
After a clear night, conditions were sunny.
Fresh snow
-
Temperature
At midday at 2000 m, between +3 °C in the west and -1 °C in the east
Wind
Light to moderate from north-easterly directions
Weather forecast to Saturday
The night will be partly cloudy and outgoing longwave radiation somewhat reduced. During the day it will initially be fairly sunny; as the day progresses it will become increasingly cloudy and isolated showers are possible.
Fresh snow
-
Temperature
At midday at 2000 m, around -1 °C in the west and -3 °C in the east
Wind
Mostly light, with a sometimes moderate northerly wind in the afternoon.
Outlook to Monday
During the night into Sunday, snow will fall over a wide area; on Sunday morning, some snow will fall, mainly in the south and west. The snowfall level will be below 1000 m. On the southern flank of the Alps, 15 to 30 cm of snow is expected, further north 5 to 15 cm. The wind will be light to moderate from southerly directions on Sunday and northerly directions on Monday. The danger of dry avalanches will increase significantly in the south. In the north, the avalanche danger will not change significantly.