östliche Berner Voralpen

Snowpack

Owing to the new fallen snow and strong westerly winds, fresh snowdrift accumulations are forming. These are deposited on a mostly compact, sometimes icy and slippery snowpack surface, which is characterised by the stormy weather, warmer temperatures and rain of the past week.

The snowpack structure is generally favourable. In the last few days, avalanches triggered by people have only been reported in isolated cases.

The gliding avalanche activity has decreased appreciably in the past few days. Nevertheless, medium-sized and occasionally large gliding avalanches are still possible.

Weather forecast for New Year's Day, 01.01.2024

During Sunday night, there will be widespread snowfall above 1000 m. The snowfall will end during the second half of the night. It will be fairly sunny in the mountains during the day.

New fallen snow

From Sunday afternoon until Monday morning, the following amounts of fresh snow are expected above approximately 1400 m:

• extreme west of Lower Valais: 20 to 30 cm;
• Vaud Alps and Fribourg Alps, as well as the Main Alpine Ridge from the Rheinwaldhorn to the Bernina Pass and south of it: 10 to 20 cm;
• otherwise up to 10 cm.

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, between -5 °C in the north and -3 °C in the south.

Wind

There will be a strong wind, with a stormy westerly wind in the high Alpine regions at times.

Weather review for New Year's Eve, 31.12.2023

It was cloudy. Snow began to fall in the west and south as the day progressed.

New fallen snow

The following amounts of fresh snow were recorded above approximately 1400 m:

• western Jura, northern Ticino and the Bernina region: 5 to 15 cm;
• otherwise there were only a few centimetres or it remained dry.

Temperature

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

Wind

There was a moderate to strong southwesterly wind.

Trend until Wednesday, 03.01.2024Berchtold's Day

It will be cloudy with a strong to storm-force westerly wind. Snow will fall in the north and west, especially in the extreme west of Lower Valais with around 20 to 30 cm of snow expected. The snowfall level will increase to around 1600 m.

The danger of dry avalanches will increase slightly in the west, otherwise it will barely change. Individual gliding avalanches are still possible, occasionally even large ones.

Wednesday

During Tuesday night, snow will fall widely in the north and west above approximately 1500 m. Once the precipitation ends on Wednesday morning, 30 to 50 cm may be recorded in the extreme west of Lower Valais, with less anticipated elsewhere. It will be dry in the south. During the day, it will be sunny from the west. There will be a strong to stormy westerly wind.

The danger of dry avalanches will increase in the west and north. It will not change significantly in the other regions.