Upper Valais

Konkordia Gebiet

Mon 5 Jan Sunrise 09:11 17:54 Overcast

Hard-to-read day. Persistent or gliding-snow problems can mask the real risk.

Day Risk Profile

Moderate
All day

Avalanche Problems

Dry snow level 2 Wind slab + Persistent weak layers dry All day
N, NE, E, SE, NW
above 2400m
Fresh and somewhat older wind slabs are lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack in particular on wind-protected shady slopes. They can in some cases be released easily. The wind slabs are clearly recognisable to the trained eye. They are to be evaluated with care and prudence in steep terrain. Avalanches can additionally in very isolated cases be released in the weakly bonded old snow also. Avalanches can in some cases reach medium size. Careful route selection is required.

Snowpack & Weather

Snowpack

On the northern flank of the Alps, the new and drifted snow of the last few days cover cover, at higher elevations on shaded, wind-sheltered slopes, an often faceted and therefore weak old snow surface. Elsewhere, the snow surface was often shaped by the wind and frequently frozen solid below 2400 m.

In western and northern Lower Valais, the snowpack structure is relatively favourable and the danger comes mainly from fresh drifted snow.

In other regions, the snowpack is thin and weak, and mostly consists of faceted crystals with embedded crusts. Snowdrift accumulations deposited on top of this snowpack are in some cases easily triggerable. In addition, individual avalanches may still be triggered in the near-ground old snowpack, especially on the Main Alpine Ridge in Upper Valais and on the central part of the southern flank of the Alps.

Weather review for Sunday

A few snowflakes fell locally during the night. During the day conditions were sunny but cold.

Fresh snow

-

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, around -9°C

Wind

  • Moderate, locally strong westerly; northerly in the south
  • Subsiding over the course of the day
Weather forecast to Monday

In the mountains conditions will be mostly sunny but cold.

Fresh snow

-

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, around -11°C

Wind

Light

Outlook to Wednesday

Conditions will remain sunny and cold. The northerly wind will be light at first, then moderate to strong on Wednesday at higher altitudes and in the south.

The unfavourable snowpack structure means that avalanche danger will decrease only very slowly.

Issued

5 Jan 05:56 UTC

Valid until

5 Jan 16:00 UTC

Next update

5 Jan 16:00 UTC

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