Prättigau and Davos

Nördliches Prättigau

Tue 16 Dec

Stable day. Low danger and benign problems — manage as usual.

Day Risk Profile

Low
All day

Avalanche Problems

Dry snow level 1 Persistent weak layers dry All day
All aspects
above 2000m
Weak layers in the old snowpack can still be released in very isolated cases in particular on extremely steep shady slopes. In addition clearly visible wind slabs will form especially in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. These are small but can in some cases be released easily. They are to be evaluated with care and prudence in very steep terrain. In high Alpine regions and in the regions exposed to the foehn wind these avalanche prone locations are more prevalent and the danger is slightly greater. Mostly avalanches are small. Apart from the danger of being buried, restraint should be exercised in particular in view of the danger of avalanches sweeping people along and giving rise to falls.

Snowpack & Weather

Snowpack

The snow depths at intermediate and high altitudes are generally below average for the time of year. There is particularly little snow on the southern flank of the Alps. Only in parts of Lower Valais is snow depth roughly in line with the long-term average. On southern slopes and generally below 2400 m, the snowpack is mostly crusted.

Along the Main Alpine Ridge and south of there, fresh and drifted snow will be deposited at high altitudes on a thin but heavily faceted snowpack on Tuesday. Avalanches are particularly likely to be triggered in these regions.

North of the Main Alpine Ridge, there are pronounced weak layers in the snowpack, particularly on northern and eastern slopes above approximately 2400 m, but hardly any avalanches have been triggered there in recent days by human activity. At high altitudes the strong southerly wind may transport some of the old snowpack, resulting in snowdrift accumulations locally prone to triggering.

Weather review for Monday

Conditions were mostly sunny in the mountains, with high broken cloud gathering in the south-west and south from midday.

Fresh snow

-

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, between +4°C in the north and +1°C in the south

Wind

In the Alpine valleys in the north and generally at high altitudes, moderate, at times strong from southerly directions

Weather forecast to Tuesday

Towards Tuesday morning, precipitation will set in on the Main Alpine Ridge and south of there. The snowfall level will be at around 1200 m. In other regions, it will be mostly cloudy but dry.

Fresh snow

The following amounts will fall above 1600 m by Tuesday afternoon:

  • Main Alpine Ridge from the Grand St Bernard Pass to the Bernina and south of there: 5 to 15 cm, with up to 20 cm in western Ticino and the Simplon region
  • elsewhere dry

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, between +4°C in the north and -2°C in the south

Wind

In the Alpine valleys in the north and generally at high altitudes, at times strong from southerly directions

Outlook to Thursday

During the night to Wednesday and on Wednesday morning it will be cloudy on the southern flanks of the Alps and in Grisons. Some snow may fall above 1600 m. In other regions, Wednesday will be very sunny. On Thursday conditions will be very cloudy but dry on the southern flank of the Alps, with sunny conditions elsewhere. Winds will be mostly light on Wednesday, and occasionally moderate on Thursday, from the southwest.

Avalanche risk may continue to increase slightly during the night to Wednesday on the southern flank of the Alps, but elsewhere will barely change.

Issued

16 Dec 06:17 UTC

Valid until

16 Dec 16:00 UTC

Next update

16 Dec 16:00 UTC

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