Central Grisons and Anterior Rhine

Zervreila

Sat 28 Feb Sunrise 08:04 19:07 Overcast

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 Persistent weak layers dry All day
All aspects
above 2200m
Distinct weak layers exist in the bottom section of the snowpack. Avalanches can be released by a single winter sport participant. They can be triggered in near-ground layers and reach large size. Whumpfing sounds can indicate the danger. Remotely triggered avalanches are possible. Backcountry touring and other off-piste activities call for experience in the assessment of avalanche danger and caution.

Snowpack & Weather

Snowpack

North of a line from the Rhone to the Rhine and in the extreme west of Lower Valais, weak layers in the snowpack are mostly thickly covered and can only rarely be triggered by human activity.

South of a line from the Rhône to the Rhine, the persistent weak layers that have been a feature since the beginning of January are still present. In many places, the surface of the snowpack is compacted or load-bearing. The snowpack therefore appears more stable and danger signs such as cracks or whumpfing sounds are becoming less frequent. The deep weak layers are still present, however, and avalanches can still be triggered by human activity and become large, but the number of avalanche-prone locations is slowly decreasing. Grisons is still the region where the most avalanches and alarm signs are being reported. In southern Valais, the significant weak layers in the lower part of the snowpack are mostly more thickly covered. Avalanche-prone locations where avalanches can be triggered in the weak old snowpack are therefore less numerous there and are mainly located in areas with relatively little snow.

Overnight to Saturday, which will see only clear intervals, the surface of the snowpack will freeze somewhat less well than on the preceding days, but it should be mostly load-bearing in the morning down to around 2500 m, and on eastward and westward sides down to around 2300 m. Sunshine will cause the crust to soften quickly and, as temperatures warm up over the course of the day, gliding avalanches will be possible on steep grassy slopes.

Weather review for Friday

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

Fresh snow

-

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, between +7 °C in the north and +5 °C in the south

Wind

Light, occasionally moderate southwesterly

Weather forecast to Saturday

Conditions will be mostly sunny in Valais, Ticino and Grisons and there will be sunny intervals on the northern flank of the Alps.

Fresh snow

-

Temperature

Dropping to between +2 °C in the west and south and +5 °C in the east at midday at 2000 m

Wind

Initially light southwesterly but rising to moderate over the course of the day in the Jura and at higher altitudes

Outlook to Monday

Overnight to Sunday conditions will be mostly cloudy and there will be a little precipitation in the north up to midday, falling as snow above approximately 1400 m. On Sunday afternoon the west will become increasingly sunny, and the east will see an increasing number of brighter intervals. Conditions will remain cloudy in the south and some snow will fall above 1600 m.

On Monday, there will be sunny intervals on the southern flank of the Alps, with the likelihood of a little precipitation. In other regions conditions will be mostly sunny after a clear night. There will be a light, occasionally moderate southerly wind on both days.

The danger of dry avalanches will continue to decrease, but only slowly in southern Valais, Ticino and particularly in Grisons due to the pronounced weak layers. Gliding avalanche and especially wet snow avalanche activity will continue to decrease.

Issued

28 Feb 07:00 UTC

Valid until

28 Feb 16:00 UTC

Next update

28 Feb 16:00 UTC

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