Bex-Villars

On the Bernina a considerable avalanche danger will prevail.

Snowpack

At the end of October, a thin snow cover prevailed over widespread areas in the high alpine regions, atop the glaciers as well as in north-facing gullies above approximately 2800 m. At that time there was already a thick snowpack at high alpine altitudes in the Bernina region. During the most recent week there was a great deal of snowfall, most of which fell in the furthermost western regions. The snowfall level descended to below the timberline. Across the flat-surfaced areas in the Lower Valais and in the northern Upper Valais where automatic measurements are registered there was 50 to 100 cm of snow on the ground at 2500 m, in the other regions of Switzerland 30 to 50 cm over widespread areas, less in some places in the central and eastern sectors of the northern flank of the Alps. The snowpack manifests severe signs of wind impact. As a consequence of storm-strength southwesterly winds in some places, snowdrift accumulations were generated over the weekend, also including distant from ridgeline terrain. Mountain summits and crests, on the other hand, are often quite windblown, free of snow entirely.

Weather forecast through Wednesday, 08.11.2023

On Tuesday evening in the southeastern regions, a small amount of additional snowfall is anticipated, subsequently skies will clear up in this region as well. On Wednesday, it is expected to be predominantly sunny.

Fresh snow

On Tuesday evening in the eastern regions, a small amount of additional snowfall is expected above approximately 1500 m, most of which will fall in the Engadine (5 to 10 cm).

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, -1 °C.

Wind

Winds will be blowing at light to moderate strength from westerly directions.

Observed weather review Tuesday, 07.11.2023

In the Engadine there were unexpected amounts of heavy precipitation. In the remaining regions of Switzerland skies were variably cloudy accompanied by extensive sunny intervals in some places, and it remained by and large dry.

Fresh snow

Between Monday afternoon and Tuesday afternoon the following amounts of fresh snow were registered above 2000 m:

• Engadine and the bordering valleys to the south: 5 to 15 cm over widespread areas; from Val Bregaglia as far as the Bernina Pass: 20 to 40 cm;
• in the remaining regions of Switzerland, less; or else it remained dry.

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, -2 °C in the northern regions and +1 °C in the southern regions.

Wind

Winds were blowing at light to moderate strength from southwesterly directions.

Outlook through Friday, 10.11.2023

Skies will be heavily overcast. Only in the southern regions will it be partly sunny on Friday. During the course of the day on Thursday, precipitation is expected to set in from the west. The snowfall level will descend from 1500 m down to 1200 m. On Thursday morning, foehn wind will be blowing in the valleys of the north, in the other regions of Switzerland a moderate to strong-velocity wind from westerly directions will be blowing. Starting on Thursday morning, the danger of dry-snow avalanches is expected to increase significantly in the western regions, only slightly in the other regions of Switzerland. Small and medium-sized gliding avalanches can be ongoingly expected.