Val d'Anniviers

There is appreciably less snow than usual at this time of year and snow conditions for ski touring are very poor, especially below 2000 m and generally in the east.

In all regions, the surface of the snowpackSnow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary is faceted and loose on wind-protected shady slopes. Otherwise, the snowpack structure varies from region to region:

• On the Main Alpine Ridge in Valais and on the central southern flank of the Alps, last week's fresh snow and snowdrift accumulations are lying on a thin but weak old snowpackSnow layers deposited from earlier precipitation, prior to fresh fallen snow. Old snow layers consist of metamorphosed snow crystals.EAWS glossary of faceted crystalsSnow grains, solid, with multiple flat glassy faces and sharp edges. Developed from faceting metamorphism, usually poorly bonded to one another (fewer contact points), a critical factor in avalanches if a faceted layer is covered with bonded snow. Typical grain size: 0.5 to 3 mm See also: www.snowcrystals.itEAWS glossary. A few avalanches, some large, have been triggered by human activity over the last few days. Isolated avalanches may still be triggered in the old snowpack in these regions.
• In central Valais, northern Upper Valais and throughout Grisons, weak layersSnowpack 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 of faceted crystalsSnow grains, solid, with multiple flat glassy faces and sharp edges. Developed from faceting metamorphism, usually poorly bonded to one another (fewer contact points), a critical factor in avalanches if a faceted layer is covered with bonded snow. Typical grain size: 0.5 to 3 mm See also: www.snowcrystals.itEAWS glossary or surface hoarTransparent, 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 are present in the snowpackSnow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary on shady slopes above approximately 2400 m. However, avalanches have only rarely been triggered in these layers. Newer snowdrift accumulations, which tend to be small, are sometimes prone to triggering, however.
• SnowpackSnow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary structure is more favourable in the westernmost and northern parts of Lower Valais and on the northern flank of the Alps. Small snowdrift accumulations have formed locally. Below 2400 m, the snowpack has mostly frozen solid.

Conditions were sunny in the mountains.

Fresh snow

-

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, between -3 °C in the southwest and -9 °C in the northeast

Wind

Mostly moderate from northerly directions

In the mountains it will be sunny after a clear night.

Fresh snow

-

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, between -3 °C in the north and -5 °C in the south

Wind

• Light winds from the north during the night
• Rising to moderate to strong from the west during the day

Friday

In the north, it will be quite sunny in the morning, with clouds gathering during the course of the day. It will be sunny in the west and south. There will be a moderate to strong wind from the southwest. It will remain cold.

There will be hardly any change in avalanche danger. Despite sometimes strong southwesterly winds, snowdrift accumulations that are small but prone to triggering will form in some localities. South of a line from the Rhône to the Rhine, isolated avalanches may still be triggered in deeper layers of the snowpackSnow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary.

Saturday

In the north, snow will fall at times during the night to Saturday and in the early morning. On the central and eastern parts of the northern flank of the Alps, 5 to 15 cm will fall down to low altitudes. It will be partly sunny in the afternoon. In the west and south, it is expected to remain dry and sunny during the day. There will be a moderate to strong wind from the southwest.

The avalanche danger will increase somewhat in the north. Fresh snowdrift accumulations will be deposited on a weak old snowpackSnow layers deposited from earlier precipitation, prior to fresh fallen snow. Old snow layers consist of metamorphosed snow crystals.EAWS glossary and will be prone to triggering. Otherwise the avalanche danger will hardly change.