Obersaxen - Safiental

In high Alpine regions a considerable avalanche danger will be encountered in some regions.

Snowpack

As a consequence of the large amounts of rainfall during the last few days, the snowpack has become thoroughly wet below approximately 2400 to 2600 m. The snow cover surface is moist up to nearly 2800 m. The lower temperatures are having a favourable effect on the stabilization of the snowpack. The fresh fallen snow which was registered towards the end of the latest period of precipitation is generally well bonded with the moist old snowpack surface. In the high alpine regions the large amounts of fresh snow and freshly generated snowdrift accumulations from recent days are still prone to triggering.

Weather forecast through Thursday, 16.11.2023

On Wednesday night it will be dry and skies will be partly clear. During the daytime hours on Thursday skies will be variably cloudy accompanied by showers in the western and the northern regions more than anywhere else, as well as with bright intervals in the southern and the eastern regions in particular. The snowfall level will lie between 2400 m in the western regions and 1800 m in the eastern regions.

Fresh snow

Only a few centimetres of fresh fallen snow is anticipated in the western and the northern regions above 2400 m.

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, +4 °C in the northern regions and 0 °C in the southern regions.

Wind

• Winds during the nocturnal hours on Wednesday night will be blowing predominantly at moderate strength from westerly directions;
• winds during the daytime hours on Thursday in the northern regions and in general at heightened altitudes will be blowing at strong to storm strength from southwesterly directions.

Observed weather review Wednesday, 15.11.2023

On Tuesday night there was precipitation registered over widespread areas. During the daytime hours on Wednesday, skies were variably cloudy accompanied by bright intervals and showers. The snowfall level descended during the nocturnal hours from approximately 2600 m down to nearly 1500 m.

Fresh snow

Between Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday afternoon the following amounts of fresh snow were registered above 2600 m:

• furthermost western part of the Lower Valais, northern Alpine Ridge: 20 to 30 cm;
• remaining parts of the Valais, remaining parts of Gotthard region, northern Grisons, Silvretta, Samnaun: 10 to 20 cm, less in the other regions.

Thus, since the beginning of this period of precipitation on Sunday afternoon, the following amounts of fresh snow have been registered in the high alpine regions:

• furthermost western part of the Lower Valais, northern Alpine Ridge: 70 to 100 cm, also more from place to place;
• remaining parts of Valais, Prättigau, Silvretta, Samnaun: 30 to 50 cm;
• in the remaining regions of Switzerland, less.

Below approximately 2600 to 2800 m, major portions of the precipitation were registered as rainfall.

Temperature

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

Wind

Winds during the nocturnal hours were blowing at strong velocity, at times at storm strength, during the daytime hours blowing predominantly at moderate to strong velocity, from westerly to northwesterly directions.

Outlook through Saturday, 18.11.2023Friday

Precipitation is anticipated over widespread areas. The snowfall level will swiftly descend on Thursday night from approximately 1600 m down to nearly 1000 m. In the Valais, on the northern Alpine Ridge and in northern Grisons, 20 to 40 cm of fresh snow is expected, as much as 50 cm from place to place. Winds will be blowing at strong to storm strength from westerly to northwesterly directions. In the southern regions it will remain dry by and large and it will be quite sunny. The danger of dry-snow avalanches is expected to increase.

Saturday

On Friday night this period of precipitation will come to an end. In the northern and the eastern regions, an additional 5 to 10 cm of snowfall is expected. During the daytime hours on Saturday it will be quite sunny. The danger of dry-snow avalanches is expected to decrease. Moist, loose snow avalanches can be expected to trigger from the fresh fallen snow.