Waadtländer Voralpen

Snowpack

In the south, the old snow surface was mostly irregular before the snowfall. However, it was also angular in places, especially on north-facing slopes at a distance from ridgelines and sheltered from the wind. New snow and snowdrift are prone to triggering. As the additional load from the new fallen snow increases, avalanches may be triggered in places, including in deeper layers of the old snowpack. In the north, strong southerly winds have led to the formation of wind slabs that are prone to triggering.

Gliding avalanches are still to be expected. This applies particularly to east-, south- and west-facing slopes below approximately 2600 m and more rarely to north-facing slopes below approximately 2200 m. These avalanches may be large in regions with a lot of snow.

Weather forecast until Saturday, 10.02.2024

It will be very cloudy and there will be heavy precipitation in the south. The snowfall level will be between 1200 and 1700 m, sometimes lower in the Alpine valleys of the south.

New snow

From Friday afternoon to Saturday afternoon, the following amounts of fresh snow are expected above approximately 2000 m:

• Main Alpine Ridge from the Saas Valley to the Bernina Pass and south of here: 30 to 50 cm, locally up to 60 cm;
• rest of the Valais Main Alpine Ridge, Val Müstair: 15 to 30 cm;
• neighbouring regions north of the central part of the Main Alpine Ridge, rest of Upper Engadine: 10 to 20 cm;
• elsewhere: less, or it will remain dry.

Temperature

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

Wind

• There will be moderate to strong southerly winds in the south, strong to storm force in the north and generally at high altitudes.
• A strong foehn wind will blow in the alpine valleys of the north.

Weather review for Friday, 09.02.2024

It was very cloudy. There was persistent precipitation in the south. In the north there were showers, especially overnight. The snowfall level was between 1500 and 1800 m.

New snow

From Thursday afternoon to Friday afternoon, the following amounts of fresh snow were recorded above approximately 2200 m:

• central part of the southern flank of the Alps, Main Alpine Ridge from the Rheinwaldhorn to the Bernina Pass: 15 to 30 cm;
• directly neighbouring regions to the north, extreme west of Lower Valais, northern Lower Valais: 5 to 15 cm;
• elsewhere: less, or it remained dry.

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, around +1 °C.

Wind

• There was a moderate to strong southerly wind, sometimes storm force at high altitudes.
• A moderate foehn wind blew in the alpine valleys of the north.

Trend until Monday, 12.02.2024Sunday

In the south, the precipitation will end during Saturday night into Sunday. During the day it will be dry but cloudy. In the north, around 10 to 20 cm of snow will fall above approximately 1200 m; however, the amounts are still uncertain.

The danger of dry avalanches will increase somewhat in the north. It will decrease in the south.

Monday

A little snow may still fall in the north on Monday. During the day there will be intermittent bright spells. It will be dry and fairly sunny in the south.

The danger of dry avalanches will not change significantly in the north. It will decrease further in the south.