Pays d'Enhaut

In the west a considerable avalanche danger will be encountered in some regions. Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow require caution.

The more recent wind slabs are in some cases prone to triggering. They are to be found in particular in the regions exposed to the foehn wind and generally at elevated altitudes. Additionally in some places avalanches can be released in near-ground layers and reach medium size. This applies in particular above approximately 2400 m. Backcountry touring and other off-piste activities call for careful route selection.

Small and medium-sized wet and gliding avalanches are possible. This applies in particular on north facing slopes below approximately 2000 m, as well as on south facing slopes below approximately 2500 m.

Snowpack In locations below approximately 2200 m there is extraordinarly little snow on the ground for this juncture of the season. At lower altitudes there is no snow whatsoever on the ground. Even above 2200 m the snow depths are below average over widespread areas. Only in the Valais do the snow depths correspond, at least in some places, to long-term averages. The predominantly shallow snowpack shows pronounced influence from higher temperatures and rainfall below 2200 to 2400 m, and is riddled with melt-freeze crusts, and also with expansively metamorphosed (faceted) crystal layers. At elevated altitudes the more deeply embedded layers of the snowpack are generally faceted and also loosely packed. This is the case on west-facing, north-facing and east-facing slopes above 2200 to 2400 m and on south-facing slopes above approximately 2700 m. As a consequence of the intermittently strong-velocity southwesterly winds, snowdrift accumulations have been generated at elevated altitudes over the last few days. These snowdrift accumulations are largest in the western sector of the northern flank of the Alps and in Lower Valais. Yet in spite of the ongoingly strong-velocity winds they are not growing any further in spread or size. As a result of the daytime rise in temperatures and solar radiation, the snowpack is weakened on very steep south-facing slopes during the course of the day. In the western and northern regions more than anywhere else, moist slides and gliding avalanches are possible. Observed weather review Saturday, 31.12.2022 Following a brief interval in the precipitation, during Friday night in the western regions more than anywhere else there was renewed precipitation registered. The snowfall level ascended to 2300 m by the end of this period of precipitation. During the daytime hours on Saturday in the western and the southern regions, heavy cloud cover moved in; in the eastern regions it was intermittently sunny. Fresh snow Between Thursday evening and Saturday morning, the following amounts of fresh snow were registered above approximately 2500 m:

• northern and furthermost western parts of Lower Valais: 20 to 50 cm;
• western sector of the northern flank of the Alps, southern part of Lower Valais: 10 to 20 cm;
• in the remaining regions of Switzerland, less; or else it remained dry.

Temperature At midday at 2000 m, between +8 °C in the northern regions and +3 °C in the southern regions. Wind Winds were southwesterly:

• in the northern regions and the Valais, blowing frequently at strong velocity;
• in the Ticino and in Grisons, blowing at light to moderate strength.

Weather forecast through Sunday, 01.01.2023 On the southern flank of the Alps, skies will be overcast. During the daytime a small amount of snowfall is possible above approximately 2000 m. In the remaining regions of Switzerland, nocturnal skies will be predominantly clear. During the daytime hours it will be rather sunny. apart from some high-altitude cloudbanks. Fresh snow In the southern regions, a small amount of snowfall is possible above 2000 m. Temperature At midday at 2000 m, +7 °C in the northern regions and 0 °C in the southern regions. Wind Winds will be southwesterly:

• in the northern regions blowing at moderate to strong velocity, intermittently attaining storm strength;
• in the southern regions blowing at light to moderate strength, in the high alpine regions intermittently at strong velocity;
• in the foehn-impacted regions of the north, strong southerly foehn winds will prevail.

Outlook through Tuesday, 03.01.2023 On Monday in the northern regions it will be predominantly sunny, skies in the southern regions will be overcast. Above 1600 m in the southern regions a small amount of snowfall is possible. During the course of the day in the northern regions, temperatures will drop: the zero-degree level will gradually descend down to nearly 2500 m. At elevated altitudes the strong-velocity southwesterly winds will persist. On Tuesday in the northern regions, some snowfall is anticipated above approximately 1500 m. During the daytime, skies will brighten incrementally from the west and the south. Winds will slacken off and be blowing only at light to moderate strength. The danger of dry-snow avalanches will decrease somewhat on Monday and then not change significantly on Tuesday. The danger of wet-snow avalanches will diminish.