Pilatus

In the northeast a considerable avalanche danger will prevail.

The northeasterly wind will transport the new snow. The fresh and older wind slabs can be released by a single winter sport participant in some cases. Avalanches can reach medium size. Backcountry touring calls for careful route selection.

Snowpack As a consequence of fresh fallen snow accompanied by moderate to strong-velocity westerly winds, snowdrift accumulations were generated at high altitudes on the northern flank of the Alps more than anywhere else during Friday night. On Sunday on the northern flank of the Alps there will again be snow transported, this time by northeasterly winds. The snowdrift accumulations will be deposited atop a rough-hewn and therefore favourable snowpack surface over widespread areas. Only on wind-protected, high-altitude shady slopes is the snowpack surface still expansively metamorphosed (faceted) in some places and therefore, less favourable. In the southern Valais and in Grisons, the entire snow cover is expansively metamorphosed (faceted) and loose in some places. Snow depths are far below average. In the flat fields where the measurement stations are located at high altitudes, snow depths amount to only one-third to two-thirds of otherwise customary depths. Observed weather review Saturday, 25.02.2023 During the night in the northern regions there was precipitation registered, most of which fell in the northeastern regions. From 1800 m, the snowfall level descended down to 1000 m. During the daytime hours in the western regions, in the Valais and in the southern regions, it was quite sunny. On the northern flank of the Alps from the Bernese Oberland as far as Liechtenstein and in northern Grisons, skies were heavily overcast, but it remained dry for the most part. Fresh snow Between Friday afternoon and the end of this period of precipitation on Saturday morning, the following amounts of fresh snow were registered above approximately 2200 m:

• from the Schwyzer Alps as far as Liechtenstein: 20 to 30 cm; in the Alpstein as much as 40 cm;
• remaining regions in the central and eastern sectors of the northern flank of the Alps, northern Prättigau: 10 to 20 cm;
• western sector of the northern flank of the Alps, remaining parts of northern Grisons: as much as 10 cm; in the other regions of Switzerland it remained largely dry.

Temperature At midday at 2000 m, between -3 °C in the northern regions and +1 °C in the southern regions. Wind Winds were frequently blowing at moderate strength, at strong velocity from place to place, from westerly directions. Weather forecast through Sunday, 26.02.2023 Skies are expected to be overcast, with extended bright intervals in the Valais, in the southern regions and in Grisons. In northern regions more than anywhere else, a small amount of snowfall is expected to fall down to low lying areas. Fresh snow Between Saturday afternoon and Sunday afternoon, the following amounts of fresh snow are anticipated:

• Bernese Prealps, central and eastern sectors of the northern flank of the Alps: 5 to 10 cm;
• in the remaining regions of Switzerland, less; or else it will remain dry.

Temperature Temperatures are expected to drop measurably. Midday temperature at 2000 m will lie at -14 °C in the northern regions and at -10 °C in the southern regions. Wind Winds will shift to northeasterly during the nocturnal hours and during the daytime be blowing:

• at moderate to strong velocity on the northern flank of the Alps, at strong to storm strength in the western Prealps;
• in the other regions of Switzerland blowing at moderate strength;

In the southern regions, a northerly wind will be blowing at moderate to strong velocity. Outlook through Tuesday, 28.02.2023 In the southern regions skies will frequently be overcast, but it will remain dry for the most part. In the remaining regions of Switzerland it will be partly sunny. The northeasterly winds will incrementally slacken off and temperatures will rise somewhat. Avalanche danger levels are expected to gradually decrease.