Obersaxen - Safiental

In the west a high avalanche danger will be encountered over a wide area.

Snowpack

Valais and northern flank of the Alps: as a consequence of persistent snowfall, the critical amount of fresh fallen snow has been exceeded at high altitudes in many regions. In the western and the northern Lower Valais more than anywhere else, furthermore, it is possible that avalanches sweep along the old snow and in isolated cases grow to very large size. In the central and eastern sectors of the northern flank of the Alps, this is expected to a lesser degree due to the lesser amounts of snow. As a result of the ascending altitude of the snowfall level, increasingly frequent naturally triggered avalanche activity can be expected. In isolated cases, naturally triggered avalanches can fracture and trigger in high altitude locations and plummet down to intermediate altitudes as wet-snow avalanches. Ticino, Grisons: in these regions, the increasing number of avalanche prone locations at heightened altitudes is striking. As a consequence of the greater amounts of snowfall and particularly the persistent snow transport at elevated altitudes, significantly more frequent avalanche locations exist above approximately 2500 m than below that altitude.

Weather forecast through Monday, 13.11.2023

In the northern regions, skies are expected to be heavily overcast for the most part, accompanied by precipitation. During the daytime hours there will also be dry phases accompanied by some bright intervals. The snowfall level will continue to ascend further, in the western regions to 2800 m, in the eastern regions to approximately 2400 m. In the Ticino and in southern Grisons it will be predominantly sunny and it will remain generally dry.

Fresh snow

Between Sunday afternoon and Monday afternoon, the following amounts of fresh snow are anticipated above approximately 3000 m in the western regions and above approximately 2600 m in the eastern regions:

• furthermost western part of the Lower Valais as well as from the Aletsch region as far as the Tödi: 30 to 50 cm;
• remaining parts of the Valais, remaining parts of northern Alpine Ridge, northern Prättigau, Silvretta, Samnaun: 15 to 30 cm;
• remaining region of Switzerland: 5 to 10 cm; on the southern flank of the Alps it is expected to remain predominantly dry.

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, between +5 °C in the western regions and +3 °C in the eastern regions.

Wind

• Winds on the northern flank of the Alps will be blowing at storm strength from westerly directions;
• winds in the Valais, Ticino, Grisons will be blowing at strong to storm strength at 3000 m, at 2000 m mostly at light to moderate strength from westerly to northwesterly directions.

Observed weather review Sunday, 12.11.2023

Following an interim without precipitation and frequently clear skies, skies were predominantly overcast during the daytime hours and there was precipitation registered over widespread areas, excluding in the Ticino and in southern Grisons. The snowfall level in the western regions ascended to 1800 m, in the eastern regions the snowfall level lay lower down.

Fresh snow

Between Saturday afternoon and Sunday afternoon, the following amounts of fresh snow were registered above 2000 m: in the Valais and in the eastern sector of the northern flank of the Alps 15 to 30 cm of fresh fallen snow over widespread areas, less in the other regions. Thus, since the most recent prolonged interim without precipitation on Thursday, the following amounts of snowfall have been registered above approximately 2000 m:

• northern Alpine Ridge from the Chablais into the Lötschental, as well as in the furthermost western part of the Lower Valais: 50 to 80 cm;
• remaining parts of the northern flank of the Alps, remaining parts of the Valais not including the southern valleys of Visp and not including the southern Simplon region: 15 to 30 cm;
• Grisons, Ticino, southern valleys of Visp and southern part of the Simplon region: 10 to 20 cm, less in central Grisons and the Engadine.

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, between 0 °C in the western regions and -3 °C in the eastern regions.

Wind

• Winds in the Valais and on the northern flank of the Alps were blowing at strong velocity, in isolated cases at storm strength, from westerly directions;
• winds in Grisons, Ticino were blowing predominantly at light to moderate strength from westerly directions.

Outlook through Wednesday, 15.11.2023Tuesday

In the northern regions, additional precipitation is anticipated. The snowfall level is expected to remain high until the afternoon hours, subsequently it will descend in the evening to below 2000 m. At elevated altitudes an additional 20 to 40 cm of fresh fallen snow is expected, more from region to region. The avalanche danger situation will remain tense. In the southern regions it is expected to remain predominantly dry, avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly.

Wednesday

In the northern regions, the snowfall is expected to continue. The snowfall level will descend to approximately 1500 m. Another 15 to 30 cm of fresh snow is anticipated. The lower temperatures below approximately 2500 m are expected to have a positive effect on the snowpack stability. Above that altitude, however, the amounts of fresh fallen snow are very large and for that reason, the avalanche danger situation remains quite critical. In the southern regions it will be predominantly sunny and avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly.