Prättigau and Davos

westliche Silvretta

Sat 28 Mar Sunrise 07:07 19:43 Light snow

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

Day Risk Profile

Considerable
All day

Avalanche Problems

Dry snow level 3 New snow + Persistent weak layers dry All day
All aspects
above 2000m
The fresh snow and the sometimes large wind slabs are lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack in particular on shady slopes. Single winter sport participants can release avalanches easily. These can also be triggered in deep layers and reach large size. Remotely triggered avalanches are possible. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack can indicate the danger. Backcountry touring calls for experience in the assessment of avalanche danger. Restraint is advisable on this first sunny day.
Wet snow level 2 Wet snow + Gliding snow wet All day
On steep grassy slopes gliding avalanches are to be expected, especially at intermediate altitudes. These can reach large size in isolated cases. Moist loose snow avalanches are to be expected as a consequence of solar radiation.

Snowpack & Weather

Snowpack

Over the last two days, lots of snow has fallen in the north down to low altitudes. This snow has been transported significantly by sometimes stormy northerly winds and also by the Bise wind on Friday. In the south, it was mainly looser old snow that was transported. This has resulted in snowdrift accumulations in all regions; in the north these accumulations are large. On wind-protected north-facing slopes, fresh and drifted snow is lying on very loose snow. On south-facing slopes, meanwhile, it is often lying on a crust up to high altitudes. In many cases, the surface of the old snowpack has also been shaped by the wind and is irregular.

In the upper part of the old snowpack, in locations sheltered from the wind there is a burried surface hoar layer in which avalanches may still be triggered. In the inneralpine regions of Valais and in Grisons in particular, avalanches are also possible in weak layers near the ground.

Weather review for Friday

During the night, there was widespread snowfall down to low altitudes, but only isolated snowfall in the northeast during the day. During the course of the day, it was quite sunny in the far west, in Valais and in the south.

Fresh snow

From Thursday afternoon until precipitation stopped on Friday, the following amounts fell above 1000 m:

  • Northern flank of the Alps east of the Wildstrubel, northern Lower Valais: 15 to 30 cm
  • less elsewhere; dry in the south.

In total, the following amounts of snow have fallen since the onset of precipitation on Wednesday afternoon:

  • Northern flank of the Alps east of the Gemmi Pass: 80 to 110 cm
  • Northern Alpine ridge west of the Gemmi Pass: 50 to 80 cm
  • Other regions of the western part of the northern flank of the Alps and of western Lower Valais, northern Grisons: 30 to 50 cm
  • Elsewhere a widespread 10 to 30 cm; dry in the far south

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, between a cold -10 °C in the north and -6 °C in the south

Wind

  • Northerly winds, moderate on the northern flank of the Alps, otherwise strong to stormy, easing somewhat over the course of the day
  • Moderate Bise wind in the western Prealps and the Jura
Weather forecast to Saturday

After a clear night, conditions will initially be sunny on Saturday. Clouds will gather from the northwest in the afternoon, and the first snowflakes will fall in the Jura. It will remain sunny in the south and in Grisons.

Fresh snow

-

Temperature

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

Wind

Light to moderate from northerly directions

Outlook

Sunday

There will be heavy cloud cover in the north and a widespread 10 to 20 cm of snowfall down to low altitudes. It will be quite sunny in Valais and the south. The northeasterly wind will be mostly moderate. A strong Bise wind will rise in the Jura and the western Prealps.

The avalanche danger will not change significantly in the north and will decrease in the south.

Monday

After the weather calms during the night, on Monday strong northwesterly winds will set in as the day progresses as well as intense snowfall in the north. The snowfall level will remain at low altitudes. It will be quite sunny in the far south.

The avalanche danger will increase significantly in the north in the afternoon. There will be no significant change in the south.

Issued

28 Mar 07:00 UTC

Valid until

28 Mar 16:00 UTC

Next update

28 Mar 16:00 UTC

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