Gruyère

Considerable avalanche danger will be encountered over a wide area.

A little snow is lying. As a consequence of new snow and a strong to storm force southwesterly wind, wind slabs formed in gullies and bowls and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. In the course of the day these will increase in size additionally. They can in some cases be released easily. Mostly the avalanches are small. Apart from the danger of being buried, restraint should be exercised as well in view of the danger of avalanches sweeping people along and giving rise to falls.

Snowpack Frequently strong-velocity winds have transported the fresh fallen snow. More than anywhere else in the eastern sector of the northern flank of the Alps and in Grisons, winds have also transported old snow from place to place. Particularly in the western regions the snowdrift accumulations which were freshly generated are large-sized. In more deeply embedded layers inside the old snowpack on north-facing slopes above 2200 to 2400 m, as well as on south-facing slopes above approximately 2800 m, there are expansively metamorphosed (faceted) and loosely-packed layers evident. These layers are prone to triggering, particularly in the southern Valais and in Grisons. Observed weather review Sunday, 15.01.2023 Skies were heavily overcast and there was precipitation registered over far-reaching areas, intensive precipitation in the furthermost western regions. The snowfall level on Sunday morning lay at 1800 to 2000 m, subsequently descended significantly; in the Jura region the snowfall level descended to low lying areas. Fresh snow Between Saturday afternoon and Sunday afternoon, the following amounts of fresh snow were registered above approximately 2000 m:

• furthermost western part of Lower Valais, Vaud and Fribourg Alps: 20 to 40 cm;
• remaining parts of the northern flank of the Alps, remaining parts of western Lower Valais: 10 to 20 cm;
• remaining parts of the Valais, northern Prättigau, as well as the highest peaks in the Jura region: 5 to 10 cm;
• in the other regions of Switzerland, less; or else it remained dry.

Temperature At midday at 2000 m, -2 °C in the northern regions, +1 °C in the inneralpine regions, and -3 °C in the southern regions. Wind Winds were blowing from southwesterly directions,

• at strong velocity over widespread areas, at storm strength from place to place in the Jura region and in the western sector of the northern flank of the Alps;
• blowing at light to moderate strength in the southern part of Upper Valais and in the southern regions.

Weather forecast through Monday, 16.01.2023 In the Engadine, a small amount of additional snowfall is anticipated on Sunday evening, subsequently the nighttime skies will be clear in all regions of Switzerland. On Monday morning, cloud cover will rapidly move in from the west. In early morning in the western regions snowfall will set in which will then spread by afternoon into central Switzerland and as far as the southern flank of the Alps. The snowfall level will lie at 600 m. Fresh snow Between Sunday afternoon and Monday afternoon, the following amounts of fresh snow are anticipated above 1000 m:

• northern and furthermost western parts of Lower Valais, Jura region: 10 to 20 cm;
• remaining parts of Valais not including southern Simplon region, Vaud and Fribourg Alps, western part of Bernese Oberland, Bernina region: 5 to 10 cm;
• in the other regions of Switzerland, less; in the northeastern regions it is expected to remain dry.

Temperature At 2000 m, -6 °C in the northern regions and -9 °C in the southern regions. Wind

• Winds during the nocturnal hours on Sunday will be blowing at moderate to strong velocity from westerly directions; in the southern regions from northwesterly directions;
• during the daytime hours winds will be blowing at strong velocity from southwesterly directions, at storm strength from place to place; in the valleys of the north, foehn wind will prevail; in the southern regions, winds will be blowing at light to moderate strength from the south.

Outlook through Wednesday, 18.01.2023 Skies will be heavily overcasat, accompanied by bright intervals on Tuesday in the eastern part of Grisons and on Wednesday in the southern regions. Intermittent snowfall is expected to fall down to low lying areas, most of which is anticipated on the northern Alpine Ridge west of the Reuss, in the Lower Valais and in the Jura region: all in all 20 to 30 cm, in the furthermost western part of Lower Valais even up to 50 cm. On Tuesday in the northern regions, foehn wind will prevail for a short time, in the other regions of Switzerland a strong westerly-to-southwesterly wind will be blowing, slackening off to moderate strength on Wednesday. The avalanche situation is expected to remain delicate. Particularly in the western regions, avalanche danger levels could increase slightly, in the other regions of Switzerland danger levels are not expected to change significantly.