Day Risk Profile

Low

Moderate

Later

Avalanche Problems

Dry avalanches, whole day

No distinct problem 1

N, NE, E, SE, W, NW

above 2400m

Individual Locations delineated by aspect or altitude where avalanches can trigger and people or objects are at risk.EAWS glossary for dry avalanches are to be found in particular in extremely steep terrain. Caution is to be exercised on rather lightly snow-covered shady slopes in little used backcountry terrain. Apart from the danger of being buried, restraint should be exercised as well in view of the danger of avalanches sweeping people along and giving rise to falls. The Avalanche Warning Service currently has only a small amount of information that has been collected in the field, so that the avalanche danger should be investigated especially thoroughly in the relevant locality.

Field notes

SLF uses this label when no single problem dominates the assessment, often on lower-danger days. It doesn't mean conditions are safe: any avalanche type is still possible, and normal caution applies. On stable days this is usually a signal to enjoy the mountains with general awareness; on less-stable days where the assessment is still inconclusive, it's a signal to be cautious specifically because there's no clear pattern to follow.

Source: SLF Avalanche Bulletin Interpretation Guide

Wet-snow avalanches, as the day progresses

Wet snow 2

N, E, S, W

below 2500m

As the day progresses as a consequence of warming during the day and solar radiation there will be an increase in the danger of wet avalanches. This applies in particular on very steep north facing slopes below approximately 2500 m, as well as on very steep east, south and west facing slopes between approximately 2500 and 3000 m. Wet avalanches can additionally in very isolated cases be released in the weakly bonded old snow by people. Mostly wet avalanches are medium-sized. Backcountry tours and ascents to alpine cabins should be started early and concluded timely.

Field notes

Rolling snowballs, deep penetration when you step or ski, and small natural slides are clear signals that the Snow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary is losing strength. After a clear, cold night the surface often freezes into a strong supporting Layer of hard-compacted snow resulting from a melt-freeze process or wind.EAWS glossary, and conditions are favourable in the early morning. After a warm, overcast night, the problem may be present from the start of the day. Plan early returns and watch the runout zones below you.

Source: SLF Avalanche Bulletin Interpretation Guide

Snowpack & Weather

Snowpack

During the mostly clear night into Monday, the surface of the Snow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary will freeze above approximately 2000 m once again to become capable of bearing loads. Sunshine will cause it to soften during the course of the day.

Moisture penetration into the Snow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary is well advanced. The most precarious areas are slopes where Snowpack 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 in the Snow layers deposited from earlier precipitation, prior to fresh fallen snow. Old snow layers consist of metamorphosed snow crystals.EAWS glossary are becoming wet for the first time. At present, this mainly affects north-facing slopes between approximately 2200 and 2500 m, and east- and west-facing slopes between approximately 2500 and 2800 m. On south-facing slopes, moisture penetration into the snowpack extends as far as the Areas above approximately 3000 m (particularly glaciated areas).EAWS glossary. In Grisons, the weak layers in the old snowpack are the least deeply buried, which means that wet The abrupt release of a slab of snow on a mountain slope. After crack initiation and crack propagation in a weak layer the released slab comprises 3 elements: The weak layer, the gliding horizon and the slab. If the slope angle is steep enough, the slab will glide down. If the slope is not steep enough, the slab will settle down on the failed weak layer. Possibly a whumpf sound will follow due to air pressed out of the weak layer. The fracture line will be sharp edged.EAWS glossary can also occasionally be triggered by human activity.

In areas higher up, where the Snow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary is still dry, Snowpack 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 in the Snow layers deposited from earlier precipitation, prior to fresh fallen snow. Old snow layers consist of metamorphosed snow crystals.EAWS glossary are still present, but are unlikely to be triggered anymore.

In general, no further avalanches triggered by human activity have been reported in the last seven days.

Weather review for Sunday

After a mostly clear night, it was mostly sunny and mild during the day.

Fresh snow

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, between +10 °C in the west and south and +7 °C in the east

Wind

Light to moderate from northerly directions

Weather forecast to Monday

Sunday night into Monday will be mostly clear. During the day, it will be mostly sunny with some cumulus clouds in the afternoon.

Fresh snow

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m around +8 °C

Wind

Mostly light from westerly directions

Outlook to Wednesday

The nights into Tuesday and Wednesday will be mostly heavily overcast and for this reason outgoing longwave radiation will be low. In the south, it will be overcast during the day with precipitation, especially on Tuesday. The snowfall level will drop from 2800 m to 2400 m. On Wednesday, there will be only a small amount of precipitation. In the north, it will be heavily cloudy on Tuesday with showers and thunderstorms. On Wednesday, it will be partly sunny in the afternoon with showers. The snowfall level will be around 2200 to 2400 m. The wind will be mostly light to moderate from westerly directions. In total, 10 to 20 cm of snow will fall in the Areas above approximately 3000 m (particularly glaciated areas).EAWS glossary over both days. The danger of dry avalanches may increase slightly in the high alpine regions. Where there is reduced outgoing longwave radiation during the night and with rain, the danger of wet avalanches will increase even in the early morning.

Source

SLF

Issued

26 Apr 15:00 UTC

Valid until

27 Apr 15:00 UTC

Next update

27 Apr 15:00 UTC