Engstligen

At elevated altitudes a considerable avalanche danger will be encountered in some regions.

Snowpack

At the end of October in the high alpine regions, atop the glaciers and in north-facing gullies and bowls above approximately 2800 m there was already a multi-layered yet often still thin snowpack. In the Bernina region at high alpine altitudes there was already a thick snow cover. High altitude zones got snowed in at the beginning of this week, thereafter there was snowfall down to intermediate altitudes. Across the flat-surface measurement fields there was 20 to 40 cm of snow on the ground over widespread areas on Friday, in the western and southern regions as much as 60 cm of snow. The snowdrift accumulations which were generated on Thursday were thus covered over with fresh snowfall. As a consequence of strong-velocity southwesterly winds on Saturday, the loosely packed old snow and the fresh fallen snow will be transported at high altitudes.

Weather forecast through Saturday, 04.11.2023

The light precipitation will come to an end on Friday night. On Saturday in the eastern regions it will still be partly sunny to begin with, in the other regions of Switzerland skies will be overcast. During the course of the day, precipitation will again set in from the west. The snowfall level will ascend in the furthermost western regions and in the northern regions up to 1600 to 2000 m; elsewhere the snowfall level will lie at 1000 to 1200 m.

Fresh snow

Between Friday evening and Saturday afternoon, the following amounts of fresh snow are anticipated above approximately 2000 m:

• Lower Valais and northern Upper Valais: 10 to 20 cm, as much as 30 cm along the French border;
• remaining parts of Valais, northern flank of the Alps, northern Ticino: 5 to 10 cm;
• other parts of Switzerland, less.

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m in the northern regions, +3 °C, in the southern regions, -4 °C.

Wind

• During the nocturnal hours, winds will be blowing at moderate strength from westerly to southwesterly directions;
• during the daytime hours in the northern regions, winds will be blowing at strong to storm strength from southwesterly directions, in the valleys of the north strong to storm-strength foehn wind, in the southern regions at high altitudes moderate to strong southwesterly winds.

Observed weather review Friday, 03.11.2023

On Thursday night there was precipitation registered over widespread areas, most of it in the southeastern regions. The snowfall level descended to 1000 to 1200 m. During the course of the day on Friday, skies were overcast in the eastern regions and a small amount of additional snowfall was registered. In the western regions, conditions were variable accompanied by bright intervals and light showers. In the southern regions it was partly sunny as a result of northerly winds.

Fresh snow

Between Thursday evening and Friday afternoon the following amounts of fresh snow were registered above approximately 2200 m:

• furthermost western part of Lower Valais, Vaud Alps, central and eastern sectors of the northern flank of the Alps, northern Ticino, Grisons: 20 to 30 cm; as much as 50 cm in Val Bregaglia as far as Bernina.
• in the remaining regions of Switzerland: 10 to 30 cm over widespread areas.

Thus, between Wednesday and Friday afternoon, the following overall amounts of snow were registered above approximately 2500 m:

• northern and western parts of the Lower Valais, Main Alpine Ridge from the Furka Pass into Val Müstair as well as southwards therefrom: 40 to 70 cm;
• in the remaining regions of Switzerland, 20 to 30 cm over widespread areas, as much as 40 cm in the southern Engadine.

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, -4 °C in the northern regions and -1 °C in the southern regions.

Wind

• Winds on the Main Alpine Ridge and in the southern regions were blowing at moderate to strong velocity from northwesterly directions over the course of the day;
• in the other regions of Switzerland winds were blowing at light to moderate strength from westerly directions.

Outlook through Monday, 06.11.2023

On Sunday, precipitation is anticipated over widespread areas which will be heavy and persistent in the western regions. The snowfall level in the northern regions will lie at 1500 to 1800 m, in the southern regions at 1300 m. On Monday in the northern and the western regions, conditions will be variable and a small amount of additional snowfall is expected, falling as snow above 1500 m. In the southern regions it will be partly sunny. Winds from westerly to southwesterly directions will be blowing at strong velocity on Sunday, at storm strength in parts of the high alpine regions, then on Monday blowing at moderate to strong velocity. Avalanche danger levels are expected to increase over widespread areas on Sunday, significantly so in the western regions. In the furthermost western part of the Lower Valais, danger level 4 (high) could be reached at high altitudes. There, increasingly frequent naturally triggered avalanches can be expected. Avalanches that reach the valley floors are hardly to be expected due to the still shallow snow cover. On Monday, avalanche danger levels will decrease somewhat, particularly in the southern and the eastern regions.