Schanfigg

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

SnowpackSnow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary structure is variable from region to region:

• On the Main Alpine Ridge in Valais and on the central southern flank of the Alps, last week’s fresh and drifted snow has been deposited 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. Smaller snowdrift accumulations from the last few days are still sometimes prone to triggering. On wind-protected shady slopes, the surface of the snowpack is faceted and loose.
• 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.

After a clear night, conditions were sunny and very mild in the mountains.

Fresh snow

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Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, around +6 °C

Wind

Light to moderate south to southwesterly

In central and eastern Switzerland, the low stratus cloud will advance down into the Alpine valleys. It will be sunny above 1500 to 1800 m and in the west and south.

Fresh snow

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Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, between -8 °C in the east, -2 °C in the west and +1 °C in the south.

Wind

Often moderate, increasingly strong from the north on the Main Alpine Ridge and to the south of there

It will be sunny in the mountains on both days. On Wednesday, there will still be moderate northerly winds at times, with southwesterly winds developing on Thursday.

There will be hardly any change in avalanche risk.