Waadtländer Voralpen

A generally favourable avalanche situation will prevail.

Individual avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular in extremely steep terrain. Even a small avalanche can sweep people along and give rise to falls.

Snowpack The snow cover surface over widespread areas shows heavy impact from wind and sun. On the northern Alpine Ridge more than anywhere else, small-sized snowdrift accumulations were generated on Thursday by southeasterly winds which in some places were blowing at strong velocity. On the northern flank of the Alps, and there, particularly from the Bernese Oberland into the Alpstein region, as well as from the Prättigau into Samnaun, there is still loosely-packed snow on the ground, deposited during the most recent period of snowfall on wind-protected shady slopes at high altitudes more than anywhere else. Beneath the layers of fresh fallen snow and freshly generated snowdrift accumulations from the last few days on the northern flank of the Alps and, in particular, on north-facing slopes, there are expansively metamorphosed (faceted) layers deeply embedded inside the snow cover in some places. In the southern Valais and in Grisons on north-facing slopes, in addition, the entire old snowpack is expansively metamorphosed (faceted) and loose over widespread areas. Triggerings in the deeply embedded weak layers have been registered only seldom during the last two weeks, however. Snow depths in the Swiss Alps continue to be far below average. At the measurement stations located in flat fields at high altitudes, approximately half of the customary snow depths are currently being recorded. Observed weather review Thursday, 02.03.2023 In southern regions, the night from Wednesday to Thursday was overcast and a small amount of snowfall was registered from region to region. In the other regions of Switzerland, nighttime skies were clear. During the daytime on Thursday north of the Main Alpine Ridge, it was predominantly sunny above the high fogbanks. In the southern regions it was partly sunny. Fresh snow In the Upper Valais sector of the Main Alpine Ridge and in the valleys of Maggia there were a few centimetres of fresh snow registered above 1000 m. Temperature At midday at 2000 m, -1 °C. Wind Winds were blowing from southeasterly directions,

• at moderate to strong velocity on the northern Alpine Ridge on Thursday night;
• blowing at light to moderate strength in the remaining regions of Switzerland.

Weather forecast through Friday, 03.03.2023 Nocturnal skies on Thursday night will be predominantly clear. During the daytime hours on Friday it is expected to be rather sunny in the mountains. In the northern regions, however, cloud cover resembling high fogbanks (with a ceiling at 1800 to 2200 m) will prevail, and is expected to disperse somewhat during the course of the day. Fresh snow - Temperature At midday at 2000 m, -2 °C. Wind Winds will be blowing from northeasterly directions,

• predominantly at light strength;
• intermittently at moderate strength at heightened altitudes.

Outlook through Sunday, 05.03.2023 On Saturday and on Sunday it is expected to be generally sunny above the high fogbanks (the ceiling at 1500 m). The northeasterly winds will be blowing predominantly at light strength, intermittently at moderate velocity at elevated altitudes. Temperatures are not expected to change significantly on Saturday, on Sunday in the northern regions temperatures are expected to drop during the course of the day. Avalanche danger levels are expected to remain predominantly favourable.