Waadtländer Voralpen

In the west and in the south a considerable avalanche danger will persist.

The fresh wind slabs are lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack. They are to be found in particular in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. Avalanches can be released by a single winter sport participant and reach medium size. The wind slabs are to be avoided in steep terrain. Backcountry touring and other off-piste activities call for experience in the assessment of avalanche danger.

Snowpack At elevated altitudes in the Ticino, the amount of snow on the ground corresponds to the average amount for this juncture of the season, but in all the other regions of Switzerland there is less snow on the ground. At 2500 m the snow depth in the furthermost western regions, as well as in the Simplon region over Goms into the Gotthard region and in the central sector of the southern flank of the Alps, amounts to approximately 80 cm. In the remaining regions of Switzerland there is 40 to 60 cm of snow on the ground over widespread areas, less in the central Valais. On shady slopes above approximately 2200 to 2400 m more than anywhere else, there are weak, expansively metamorphosed (faceted) layers evident over widespread areas. These layers in the western regions and on the Main Alpine Ridge from the Matterhorn into the Bernina region and southwards therefrom, are already blanketed over by so much snow that even dangerously large avalanches are possible. The freshly generated snowdrift accumulations have been deposited on top of an unfavourable old snow cover and are thus prone to triggering. Observed weather review Friday, 09.12.2022 Skies were overcast, accompanied by snowfall extending down to low lying areas. Fresh snow By Friday afternoon above approximately 1500 m, the following amounts of fresh fallen snow were registered:

• Vaud and Fribourg Alps, western part of the Bernese Oberland, northern Valais, western part of Lower Valais, Sotto Ceneri, Bernina region, Jura: 10 to 20 cm; as much as 30 cm on the French border;
• in the remaining regions of Switzerland, 5 to 10 cm over widespread areas; less in the central and eastern sectors of the northern flank of the Alps.

Temperature At midday at 2000 m, between -1 °C in the northern regions and -4 °C in the southern regions. Wind Winds were frequently blowing at moderate strength, in some places in the foehn-exposed regions of the north at strong velocity from southerly to southwesterly directions. Weather forecast through Saturday, 10.12.2022 Skies will be heavily overcast, accompanied by light snowfall extending down to low lying areas. In the southern regions it is expected to remain dry, with extensive bright intervals also encompassing the high alpine regions of the Valais. Fresh snow Between Friday afternoon and Saturday afternoon, the following amounts of fresh fallen snow are anticipated:

• northern flank of the Alps, western part of the Lower Valais: 10 to 15 cm;
• remaining regions of the northern Alpine Ridge, remaining parts of Lower Valais, Prättigau: 5 to 10 cm;
• in the other regions of Switzerland, only a few centimetres; in the southern regions it is expected to remain dry.

Temperature In the northern regions temperatures are expected to drop. Midday temperatures at 2000 m will lie between -7 °C in the northern regions and -1 °C in the southern regions. Wind

• Winds at high altitudes will be blowing at moderate strength, elsewhere at light strength, from westerly directions;
• in the southern regions, winds will intially be blowing at light strength, in the afternoon becoming increasingly strong, from northerly directions.

Outlook through Monday, 12.12.2022 Sunday During Saturday night in the northern and the eastern regions, a small amount of snowfall is expected, extending down to the lowlands. During the daytime on Sunday it will be quite sunny in the western regions, overcast for longer in the eastern regions. In the southern regions it will be sunny as a result of strong northerly foehn wind. In the mountains it will be cold: -11 °C. In the southern regions, foehn winds will transport the loose old snow. As a consequence of freshly generated snowdrift accumulations avalanche danger levels will increase. In the remaining regions of Switzerland, avalanche danger will incrementally decrease. Monday In the northern regions it will be partly sunny, in the southern regions predominantly so. It will remain cold, however winds will be blowing mostly at light strength. Avalanche danger is expected to gradually decrease.