Martigny-Verbier

Snowpack

This week's new snow and drifted snow is lying on a continuous snowpack above approximately 2800 m and generally in glaciated high Alpine regions. Especially on north-facing slopes, some faceted surfaces have been covered with snow. Due to the strong to storm-force winds from the west, snow distribution is very irregular.

Snowdrift accumulations prone to triggering will develop on Sunday with ongoing snowfall and wind. In addition, gliding avalanches are possible in regions exposed to significant new snowfall.

Weather forecast to Sunday

There will be widespread snowfall overnight to Sunday except in the south. Conditions will clear over the course of the day in Upper Valais and Engadine, while conditions will be sunny in the south. Elsewhere, snow will continue to fall. The snowfall level will be around 1800 m at night and drop to 1000 m by Sunday evening.

New snow

From Saturday afternoon to Sunday afternoon above approximately 2000 m:

• extreme west of Lower Valais, Northern Alpine Ridge: 20 to 40 cm
• rest of northern flank of the Alps, rest of Lower Valais, Prättigau: 10 to 20 cm
• Upper Valais, other parts of northern Grisons, Lower Engadine north of the Inn: 5 to 10 cm, elsewhere less or no snow

Temperature

Falling, reaching -4 °C in the north and 0 °C in the south at midday at 2000 m.

Wind

Strong westerly winds in the north, moderate to strong north-westerly winds in the south

Weather review for Saturday

Some snow fell in the west and north on Saturday. The snowfall level was between 1500 and 1700 m. There were sunny intervals over the course of the day in the south. New snow

New snow

From midday on Friday to midday on Saturday above approximately 2000 m:

• extreme west of Lower Valais, northern Valais from the Wildhorn to Goms: 10 to 20 cm, in the far west locally up to 30 cm
• otherwise a widespread few centimetres, mostly dry in Grisons and Ticino

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m 0 °C in the north and +3 °C in the far south

Wind

Moderate to strong, from westerly directions

Outlook

There will be heavy snowfall in the north and west on Monday and overnight to Tuesday. The snowfall level will rise to around 1800 m in the west and 1400 m in the east. Conditions will only be sunny in the far south on Monday.

On Tuesday morning there will still be cloud cover especially in the east, with conditions otherwise mostly sunny. The zero-degree level will increase to 2800 m in the west and 2200 m in the east.

The wind will be strong to storm-force on Monday and moderate from the west on Tuesday.

From Sunday evening to Tuesday morning, 40 to 60 cm of snow is expected at 2000 m in the extreme west of Lower Valais, on the Northern Alpine Ridge and in Prättigau. In the rest of Valais, the Gotthard region, northern and central Grisons, 20 to 40 cm of snow will fall, with less or no snow further south.

Avalanche risk will increase significantly in the far west and north on Monday and may reach level 4 (high) in some regions. Naturally triggered avalanches, some large, are expected. Touring conditions are critical. In other regions, the risk will increase somewhat.

Gliding avalanches are possible in regions with significant new snowfall.