Money & Daily LifeDavos GR
Early snow on warm ground: avalanche researchers sound a warning for the start of winter
After a record-hot summer the ground is still warm in many places. That can make the snowpack unstable from below – even on north-facing slopes.
Key facts
- Who is warning
- The WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF in Davos
- Mechanism
- A thick early snowpack insulates the warm ground, so the bottom layer stays wet
- Result
- The entire snowpack can slide on grass or smooth rock
- Also
- Above 2,500 metres heat is pushing deeper into the permafrost, raising the risk of rockfall
Early snow is good news for ski resorts – but this autumn it has a downside. When it lands on ground that is still warm after the record-hot summer, it can raise the avalanche risk across the Swiss Alps. That is the warning from the WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research in Davos, as World Radio Switzerland reports.
Why warm ground is a problem
A thick early snowpack acts like insulation: the heat stays in the ground and the bottom layer of snow stays wet. That makes the whole snowpack prone to sliding on grass or smooth rock. According to the institute this even applies to north-facing slopes, which are usually spared.
The rock is getting less stable too
Above 2,500 metres the accumulated heat is also pushing deeper into the permafrost. That weakens mountain flanks and raises the risk of rockfall.
Artificial snow: water may still be too warm
Resorts at medium altitude face a further problem: this winter the water may still be too warm to make artificial snow.
If you are heading off secured pistes, the current assessment is in the SLF avalanche bulletin.
Sources
- World Radio Switzerland: News item on avalanche risk heading into winter (opens in a new tab)worldradio.ch
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