südliches Urseren

Snowpack

A lot of snow has fallen in the last three days, especially in the north. This is becoming increasingly settled and compacted. Extensive snowdrift accumulations have formed on the Main Alpine Ridge and in the south, with strong northerly winds.

At high altitudes, there is about twice as much snow in many areas as there normally is at the beginning of December. The snowpack structure is generally favourable. Occasional avalanches may be released on Tuesday's rain crust. In southern Upper Valais, Ticino, Moesano, Val Bregaglia and Val Poschiavo, there are average snow depths at altitude. In these regions, older weak layers may occasionally be released by people.

At intermediate altitudes, the rain has moistened or soaked the snowpack. The snowpack is increasingly stabilising as a consequence of falling temperatures. Gliding avalanches are still possible, especially below 2200 m.

Weather forecast until Saturday, 16.12.2023

It will be sunny in the mountains.

New fallen snow

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Temperature

There will be a significant rise in temperature: at midday at 2000 m, +4 °C in the west, +2 °C in the south and 0 °C in the east.

Wind

• There will initially still be strong northerly winds on the Main Alpine Ridge from Zermatt to the Bernina area and the southern flank of the Alps, with these winds easing as the day progresses.
• Otherwise moderate winds will blow at altitude, with occasional strong winds from the northeast.

Weather review for Friday, 15.12.2023

It was quite sunny in the west and south. In the northeast, the snowfall ended in the morning and there were longer sunny spells during the day.

New fallen snow

From Thursday afternoon to Friday at noon, the following amounts of snow fell above approximately 1500 m:

• north of the Rhone-Rhine, northern Grisons, northern Upper Engadine, Lower Engadine: 10 to 20 cm, up to 35 cm in the eastern Urn Alps and in the Glarus Alps;
• a few centimetres or dry further south.

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, between -5 °C in the north and -1 °C in the south.

Wind

• There were strong northerly winds on the Main Alpine Ridge from Zermatt to the Bernina area and southern flank of the Alps.
• There were strong northerly winds at high altitudes on the eastern part of the northern flank of the Alps and Grisons.
• Otherwise there were widespread weak to moderate northerly winds.

Trend until Monday, 19.12.2023

It will be sunny and mild.

The danger of dry avalanches is expected to decrease. More gliding avalanches are expected owing to warmer temperatures and solar radiation. Wet avalanches are also possible, especially on very steep sunny slopes.