Churfirsten and Rhine Valley
Appenzeller Alpen
Hard-to-read day. Deteriorating: low this morning, moderate by afternoon, with wet snow and gliding snow in play — you will see part of it, not all.
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.
Wet snow + Gliding snow
2
Field notes
Wet snow
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.
Gliding snow
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
The Snow layers deposited from earlier precipitation, prior to fresh fallen snow. Old snow layers consist of metamorphosed snow crystals.EAWS glossary contains various 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 particular on wind-sheltered shady slopes, 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 is in some cases covered by snow. Deeper in the Snow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary there are faceted layers, which in isolated cases are still prone to triggering, especially on seldom-used slopes with little snow cover. As daytime temperatures rise and the surface starts to moisten in some places, the likelihood of even dry avalanches being triggered is increasing during the course of each day.
In addition, 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 are to be expected in all regions as the day progresses. Isolated 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 may also be triggered by human activity. Especially north of a line from the Rhone to the Rhine, isolated gliding avalanches are still to be expected. These are also usually triggered during the course of the day.
Weather review for Wednesday
After a clear night, it was sunny and very mild with a zero-degree level at 3500 m.
Fresh snow
-
Temperature
At midday at 2000 m, around +10 °C
Wind
Overnight sometimes moderate from the north, light during the day
Weather forecast to Thursday
After a clear night, it will be sunny. With a zero-degree level at 3000 m, it will remain mild.
Fresh snow
-
Temperature
At midday at 2000 m, between +7 °C in the north and +9 °C in the south
Wind
Increasingly moderate from the northwest in the afternoon
Outlook
Friday
During the night into Friday it will be partly cloudy in the south, while elsewhere it will be quite clear. During the day it will be quite sunny in the west and south, but no longer quite as warm as on the previous days. In the northeast it will be heavily overcast and a few snowflakes will fall above approximately 2000 m. The northwesterly wind will be strong in places at high altitude.
The danger of dry avalanches will continue to decrease. The danger of wet and gliding avalanches will increase in the west and in the south as the day progresses. In the northeast the danger will be mainly confined to lower-lying north-facing slopes, but will be present from the early morning onwards.
Saturday
After a partly clear night, it will be sunny and mild on Saturday. The zero-degree level will increase back up to 3000 m, and the wind will be light.
The danger of dry avalanches will continue to decrease. Due to the somewhat reduced nocturnal radiation, the danger of wet and gliding avalanches will increase rapidly as the day progresses.