Gruyère

Snowpack

Avalanches may occur particularly in the various layers of new snow and wind slabs from recent days. It has been snowing repeatedly in the north over the last 7 days. A total of 1 to 1.5 m of snow has fallen, and in some regions even more. Avalanches may therefore be large. Towards the south, the amount of new snow is decreasing appreciably. In all regions, the amount of new snow increases significantly with altitude and may considerably exceed the amounts described in the avalanche bulletin in the high Alpine regions.

Before the onset of the wintry weather, the old snowpack on east-, south- and west-facing slopes was soaked up to above 3000 m and on north-facing slopes up to approximately 2500 m. Falling temperatures have caused the old snowpack to stabilise. Wet and gliding avalanche activity is currently low. Mostly small gliding avalanches are expected, especially on slopes that had been free of snow prior to these snowfalls.

Weather forecast until Tuesday, 23.04.2024

It will remain cloudy with widespread precipitation. Some bright spells are possible in Valais. It will remain cold, with the snowfall level lying between 700 m in the north and 1000 m in the south.

New snow

From Monday afternoon to Tuesday afternoon, the following amounts of fresh snow are expected above approximately 1400 m:

• northern flank of the Alps excluding the Vaud and Fribourg Alps, Main Alpine Ridge from the Lukmanier Pass to the Bernina region, and the Saas Valley and Sotto Ceneri: 15 to 25 cm;
• elsewhere: widely 5 to 15 cm.

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, between -7 °C in the north and -4 °C in the south.

Wind

• Winds will be mostly moderate from the northeast.
• In the north, there will be a sometimes strong Bise wind.

Weather review for Monday, 22.04.2024

It was cloudy and there was some widespread snowfall above approximately 600 m.

New snow

From Sunday afternoon to Monday afternoon, the following amounts of fresh snow were recorded above approximately 1400 m:

• northern flank of the Alps: 15 to 25 cm;
• elsewhere: widely 5 to 15 cm.

Since Friday afternoon, the following amounts of snow have fallen above around 1600 m:

• central and eastern parts of the northern flank of the Alps: 80 to 100 cm, locally more;
• rest of the northern flank of the Alps excluding the Vaud and Fribourg Alps, Surselva, northern Prättigau: 40 to 80 cm;
• Vaud and Fribourg Alps, Valais, Bedretto, Upper Valle Maggia, rest of northern Grisons and Lower Engadine: 20 to 40 cm;
• less elsewhere.

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, between -7 °C in the north and -5 °C in the south.

Wind

• There was a mostly light to moderate northeasterly wind.
• On the central part of the Main Alpine Ridge, winds were moderate from the north.

Trend until Thursday, 25.04.2024Tuesday

In the north, it will remain mostly very cloudy, with some snow falling at times. It will remain cold; the snowfall level will be around 700 m. The wind will shift to the northwest and will be mostly moderate. In the south, it will be quite sunny with strong northerly winds at times.

The avalanche danger will fall slightly.

Wednesday

It will remain cloudy with bright spells in the north, with a little more snow falling on the northern flank of the Alps. It will be quite sunny in Valais and the south. It will still be cold. The wind will initially blow moderately from the northwest, but will die down during the day.

The avalanche danger will decrease further.