Waadtländer Voralpen

Snowpack

On the Main Alpine Ridge and to the north of there, strong southerly winds have transported loose snow on shady slopes and formed snowdrift accumulations that are prone to triggering. On the northern flank of the Alps, the snowpack structure is otherwise quite favourable. In southern Valais, Ticino and Grisons, there are weak layers prone to triggering in the central part of the snowpack. Especially along the central and eastern parts of the Main Alpine Ridge and to the south of there, avalanches can also be triggered on shady slopes in near-ground layers of the snowpack. Fresh snow having fallen, breaks in the weak layers of old snow are becoming more probable.

The snowpack is slowly becoming increasingly water-saturated and southern slopes up into high Alpine regions and western slopes below approximately 2200 m are already saturated. The snowpack on northern and eastern slopes is still mostly dry, but the diffuse sunshine in recent days has also had a significant warming effect in these areas. This is probably why gliding avalanches have been observed in recent days, especially on north- and east-facing slopes. Despite falling temperatures, gliding avalanches in particular, but also isolated wet snow avalanches, are still possible.

Weather forecast to Sunday

In the south, conditions will remain overcast and snow will continue to fall. The snowfall level will be 1600 m. The north will see sunny intervals with isolated showers possible as the day progresses.

Fresh snow

From Saturday evening to Sunday afternoon above 1800 m:

• Main Alpine ridge from Monte Rosa to the Bernina region and to the south of there: 15 to 30 cm
• adjoining regions to the north and remainder of the Main Alpine Ridge: 5 to 15 cm
• elsewhere a few centimetres or dry

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, between 0 °C in the north and -2 °C in the south.

Wind

• The foehn wind will remain strong in the north overnight, subsiding significantly during the day
• Mostly light southerly wind on the southern flank of the Alps

Weather review for Saturday

The night was overcast in the south with clear spells in the north. There was precipitation in the south, falling as snow above approximately 1500 m. During the day, conditions were still overcast in the south with broken cloud in the north.

Fresh snow

The following amounts have fallen above approximately 1800 m since Friday evening:

• Val Bedretto, Upper Valle Leventina, Upper Valle Maggia: 10 to 20 cm
• remainder of the Main Alpine ridge from the Simplon Pass to the Bernina region and south of there: 5 to 10 cm

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, +6 °C in the north and -1 °C in the south

Wind

Southerly, with a foehn wind in the north, especially in the typical foehn valleys:

• strong to storm force during the night in the north, moderate to strong during the day
• mostly light to moderate on the southern flank of the Alps

OutlookMonday and Tuesday

Monday will be changeable with clear spells and showers. It will be pretty cold. On Tuesday, conditions will be sunny in the south with broken cloud and a few showers in the north. Temperatures will rise a little. The wind will shift from south to northeast on Tuesday and will be mostly light to moderate.

The danger of dry avalanches will decrease, but only slowly on northern slopes in southern regions exposed to precipitation. Wet and gliding avalanches will be possible over the course of the day. In addition, moist snow slides of fresh snow are expected, especially on Tuesday in sunny southern regions.