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  INSTITUTE FOR SNOW AND AVALANCHE RESEARCH  DAVOS
               NATIONAL AVALANCHE BULLETIN NO. 102
           from Friday, 9 March 2007, 18:30 hours
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  WITH NEW SNOW AND WIND, AVALANCHE DANGER INCREASES IN THE 
NORTH
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CURRENT CONDITIONS

On Friday it was sunny. The midday temperatures at 2000 m were 
between minus 1 to minus 3 degrees in the north and plus 2 
degrees in the south. Light winds from varying directions 
prevailed. 
The new snow in the south from the beginning of the week is 
slowly consolidating. On shady slopes above approximately 2400 m 
the snow layering is weak, particularly in inneralpine regions. 
Avalanches can fracture down to the old snowpack.


SHORT-TERM DEVELOPMENT

Friday night along the northern flank of the Alps and in the 
bordering regions it will begin to snow. On Saturday it will 
slowly clear up, from the west and south. The midday 
temperatures at 2000 m will be minus 3 to minus 5 degrees. 
Strong northerly winds will prevail, in high altitude zones 
winds will be stormy. 
By Saturday midday in the central and eastern parts of the 
northern flank of the Alps as well as in Praettigau, 15 to 30 cm 
of snow will fall. In the western part of the northern flank of 
the Alps, in the Valais and the remaining Grisons, 5 to 15 cm of 
snow will fall. On the southern flank of the Alps, only a few 
centimetres of snow will fall. The snow line is at 800 m.


AVALANCHE DANGER FORECAST FOR SATURDAY

Northern part of the main Alpine ridge from Haslital to the 
Saentis region; Praettigau; western Silvretta as well as the 
main Alpine ridge from Saastal to Bergell and northern 
Ticino:
  Considerable Avalanche Danger (Level 3)
The avalanche prone locations are above approximately 2000 m. 
In the regions of the northern part of the main Alpine ridge 
as well as in Praettigau and the Silvretta, the avalanche 
prone locations are primarily on snowdrift slopes in all 
aspects. Especially the new snow and the fresh snowdrift must 
be judged critically. 
On the remaining main Alpine ridge from Saastal to Bergell 
and in northern Ticino, the avalanche prone locations are 
primarily on west to north to east- facing steep slopes as 
well as areas adjacent to the ridge line in all aspects. The 
rather shallow snowpack transitions to steep slopes with deep 
snow are particularly dangerous. 
In all the indicated regions single persons can trigger 
avalanches.

The remaining regions of the Swiss Alps:
  Moderate Avalanche Danger (Level 2)
The avalanche prone locations are on steep slopes in all 
aspects, especially those above approximately 2000 m, in the 
northern Prealpes above approximately 1800 m. In the northern 
regions, special heed must be given particularly to the new 
snow and snowdrift. 
In the remaining regions, particularly shallow snowpack 
transitions into steep gullies and bowls must be judged 
critically. Avalanches can be released especially through 
high additional loading. In all regions of this danger level, 
the avalanche danger increases with ascending altitude. Above 
approximately 2600 m considerable avalanche danger must be 
expected.


TREND FOR SUNDAY AND MONDAY

On Sunday and Monday the weather will be pleasant and milder. 
The danger of dry avalanches will slowly diminish. The danger of 
wet snow avalanches will again increase.