Full avalanche bulletin (to print) Page 1/3 Avalanche bulletin through Tuesday, 4 March 2014 3.3.2014, 16:43 Considerable avalanche danger will be encountered in some regions. Snow drifts represent the main danger Edition: 3.3.2014, 17:00 / Next update: 4.3.2014, 08:00 Avalanche danger updated on 3.3.2014, 17:00 Region A Level 3, considerable Snow drifts Avalanche prone locations Danger description As a consequence of the northerly wind sometimes large snow drift accumulations will form. Somewhat older snow drift accumulations are in some cases still prone to triggering. Avalanches can be released easily and reach medium size. Snow sport activities outside marked and open pistes call for experience and restraint. Full-depth avalanches Ticino, Val Moesa and Val Calanca: Full-depth avalanches can also occur at any time. These can reach dangerously large size. Caution is to be exercised in areas with glide cracks. WSL Institute for Snow and Danger levels 1 low 2 moderate 3 consider. 4 high 5 very high Avalanche Research SLF www.slf.ch Full avalanche bulletin (to print) Page 2/3 Avalanche bulletin through Tuesday, 4 March 2014 3.3.2014, 16:43 Region B Level 3, considerable Snow drifts, old snow Avalanche prone locations Danger description As a consequence of the northerly wind easily released snow drift accumulations will form. The number and size of avalanche prone locations will increase as the day progresses. Somewhat older snow drift accumulations are in some cases still prone to triggering. Snow sport activities outside marked and open pistes call for experience in the assessment of avalanche danger. The inneralpine regions of Valais: Additionally in isolated cases avalanches can be triggered in near-ground layers and reach dangerously large size. This applies in particular on very steep shady slopes and in little used backcountry terrain. Region C Level 2, moderate Fresh snow and snow drifts Avalanche prone locations Danger description As a consequence of the northerly wind easily released snow drift accumulations will form. As the day progresses the previously small snow drift accumulations will increase in size moderately. Somewhat older snow drift accumulations are in some cases still prone to triggering. The avalanche prone locations are difficult to recognise. Defensive route selection is advisable. Region D Level 2, moderate Fresh snow and snow drifts, old snow Avalanche prone locations Danger description As a consequence of the northerly wind easily released snow drift accumulations will form. As the day progresses the previously small snow drift accumulations will increase in size moderately. Somewhat older snow drift accumulations are in some cases still prone to triggering. The avalanche prone locations are difficult to recognise. Defensive route selection is advisable. Northern Grisons and Lower Engadine north of the Inn: Additionally in isolated cases avalanches can be triggered in near-ground layers and reach dangerously large size. This applies in particular on very steep shady slopes and in little used backcountry terrain. WSL Institute for Snow and Danger levels 1 low 2 moderate 3 consider. 4 high 5 very high Avalanche Research SLF www.slf.ch Full avalanche bulletin (to print) Page 3/3 Avalanche bulletin through Tuesday, 4 March 2014 3.3.2014, 16:43 Snowpack and weather updated on 3.3.2014, 17:00 Snowpack As a consequence of the sometimes strong southwesterly wind during Sunday night, snow drift accumulations formed in particular in the far west and the north. As a consequence of the northerly wind on Tuesday, further snow drift accumulations will form and be prone to triggering. In the south they will be large in some cases. Underneath the layers of fresh and drifted snow that have formed in recent days, the bonding of the snowpack is favourable in most regions. The bonding of the snowpack is less favourable in particular on shady slopes in central Valais, northern Grisons, and northern Lower Engadine. Here in particular, avalanches can penetrate even near-ground weak layers in very isolated cases. Observed weather on Monday, 3.3.2014 The weather was sunny in the far east, in particular in the morning. In the other regions, it was mostly very cloudy and a little snow fell at times. Fresh snow The following amounts of snow fell above approximately 1000 m in the period from Sunday evening until Monday evening: · Chablais, western Bernese Oberland, northern and western Lower Valais, Simplon region, Valle Maggia: 5 to 15 cm · Elsewhere: smaller amounts, none in the east Temperature At midday at 2000 m: about -5 °C in the west and -3 °C elsewhere Wind Southwesterly, moderate but strong at times during the night, becoming westerly and easing significantly during the day Weather forecast through Tuesday, 4.3.2014 During the night, some snow will fall in many areas. During the day it will be very cloudy with snowfall above approximately 800 m in the north. In the south, the precipitation will cease in the morning and some bright spells will occur. Fresh snow The following amounts of snow will fall above approximately 1000 m in the period from Monday evening until Tuesday evening: · Northern flank of the Alps, southern Valais, Gotthard region: 10 to 20 cm · Other regions: 5 to 10 cm Temperature At midday at 2000 m: about -5 °C in the north and -3 °C in the south Wind Moderate from the north, moderate to strong northerly in Ticino Outlook through Thursday, 6.3.2014 Wednesday will be mostly very cloudy at first in the north, and a little snow will fall. It will become increasingly bright from the west as the day progresses. It will be sunny in the south with a northerly wind. Thursday will be quite sunny and a little milder in the mountains. The danger of dry avalanches will slowly decrease. The danger of wet avalanches will increase a little on Thursday. Current avalanche bulletin Weather information Feedback to avalanche warners Internet www.slf.ch in collaboration with MeteoSwiss (Avalanche released? Bulletin inaccurate?) App White Risk Alpine weather report Questionnaire www.slf.ch WSL Institute for Snow and (iPhone, Android) tel. 0900 162 138 (CHF 1.20/min., in German) E-Mail [email protected] Avalanche Research SLF www.meteoswiss.ch Toll-free phone number 0800 800 187 www.slf.ch.