Summary

Two unusual avalanche events shook the region within 24 hours: an avalanche in the Adelboden ski area and a second one on the national highway near Goppenstein, which for the first time flooded a protective gallery. 1.5 meters of fresh snow in just a few days combined with weak old snow layers created extreme conditions. Experts rate the situation for the weekend as critical, with further hazards in the following week.

People

Topics

  • Avalanche hazard in Valais and Bernese Alps
  • Protective infrastructure and risk management
  • Extreme weather events and snow conditions

Clarus Lead

Within 24 hours, two avalanches occurred at unusual locations: one in the Adelboden-Lenken ski area (with no buried persons), a second near Goppenstein on the national highway – for the first time, this one exceeded a protective gallery and closed the road. Reason: intensive fresh snowfall (up to 1.5 m in parts of Valais) hit weak old snow layers. The Federal Roads Office cleared 6 meters of snow from the gallery to direct future avalanches. Relevant for decision-makers: Avalanche hazard remains critical over the weekend for ski tourers and freeriders; starting Monday, heavy snowfall threatens again.

Detailed Summary

The avalanche near Goppenstein (Valais) struck the national highway between Gampel and Koppestein yesterday shortly before noon. For the first time, it flooded a concrete protective gallery designed to stop avalanches – a rare extreme event. Lukas Studer from ASTRA confirmed: this was the first time an avalanche had gone over this gallery. The road was reopened by evening; no persons were injured.

The main reason for the extreme avalanche activity is 1.5 meters of fresh snow in parts of Valais since Tuesday, with widespread 50–80 cm in the west. However, the prehistory is crucial: the winter had been snow-poor until mid-February. The little snow that fell formed deep weak layers (characteristic weak structural formations). The new snow accumulated on this fragile foundation – a classic recipe for avalanche eruptions.

Jörg Drachsel from the Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research classified the situation for this winter as "exceptional," but as normal in the long term (20-year comparison). The weekend remains critical: the fresh snow will stabilize within days, the old snow stabilizes very slowly. Freeriders and ski tourers could trigger avalanches. Starting Monday, another intense snowfall is expected – the hazard will increase significantly.

Key Messages

  • Two avalanche events in 24 hours: Adelboden (ski area, no damage); Goppenstein (for the first time over protective gallery on national highway)
  • Snow load + weak old snow layers: Up to 1.5 m fresh snow on fragile pre-existing layer triggered avalanches
  • Weekend critical, next week more dangerous: Old snow stabilizes slowly; heavy snowfall expected Monday/Tuesday
  • Protective infrastructure functioning: Professionalized services, new blasting systems, but no 100% safety against extreme events
  • Statistics reassuring: Only once every 3–4 years a fatal avalanche accident on road/ski slope; majority of ~24 annual victims in open terrain

Further News

  • Bern Cantonal Parliament: Social welfare law to be reconsidered in March; commission removes controversial self-retention for municipalities but retains transparency model.
  • Prison Overcrowding: Regional prisons in Bern, Biel, Burgdorf, Moutier, and Thun at 124% capacity (2025); new facility at Zwitzwil planned.
  • Fribourg Carnival: Bolzen carnival starts today, climax Sunday with parade (12 floats, 9 groups); construction sites affect program.
  • Valais First Aid Training: Starting next school year nationwide; goal: students learn emergency measures and CPR appropriate to their age.

Critical Questions

  1. Snow Quality & Measurement Methods (Evidence): The distinction between "wet-snow avalanche" (Goppenstein) and powder avalanches is based on field observations – are there quantitative measurement data (snow density, shear strength) supporting this diagnosis, or does the analysis primarily follow visual impressions?

  2. Gallery Design & Limits (Conflicts of Interest): ASTRA clears 6 meters of snow to direct future avalanches. Who finances this preventive snow removal, and could cost pressure undermine safety measures?

  3. Causality Old Snow (Alternative Explanations): Drachsel attributes avalanche activity to old snow weak layers. Did temperature jumps, wind erosion, or other microclimatic factors play a role in the last 48 hours, or is old snow the dominant factor?

  4. Weekend Risk & Communication (Feasibility): The warning of avalanche hazard for freeriders and ski tourers over the weekend is given verbally – do authorities also use warning apps, social media, or other channels to effectively reach these risk groups?

  5. Forecast Uncertainty (Side Effects): Drachsel predicts for Monday/Tuesday again "significantly" increasing hazard. How large is the error margin of this forecast, and how do forecast errors influence evacuation or closure decisions?

  6. Statistics & Comparability (Data Quality): The statement "only once every 3–4 years a fatal accident on road/slope" is based on 20 years of data. How robust is this rate for extreme events like Goppenstein, which are considered outliers?

  7. Early Detection & Monitoring (Prevention): Why was the unusually high avalanche hazard at Goppenstein not forecast to allow preventive blasting before noon – were real-time snow cover data lacking?

Source Directory

Primary Source: Regional Journal Bern-Fribourg-Valais – SRF (13.02.2026) https://download-media.srf.ch/world/audio/Regionaljournal_Bern_Freiburg_Wallis_radio/2026/02/Regionaljournal_Bern_Freiburg_Wallis_radio_AUDI20260213_NR_0075_d63b793160214e4e868681d561670f37.mp3

Additional Sources (mentioned in transcript):

  • Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research (SLF)
  • Federal Roads Office ASTRA
  • Bern Cantonal Police
  • Keystone SDA (prison statistics)

Verification Status: ✓ 13.02.2026

This text was created with the support of an AI model. Editorial Responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-Check: 13.02.2026