Saint-Cergue

Snowpack

In near-surface layers, there are sometimes weak layers in which avalanches could be triggered. In addition, new snow, especially in the Prealps and the Jura, will be transported intensively by the sometimes strong Bise wind, forming snowdrift accumulations that are prone to triggering.

On the central part of the southern flank of the Alps and in southern Upper Engadine, the old snowpack structure has been partially transformed, especially in places with little snow, and fractures deeper in the snowpack are possible in isolated cases. In the other regions, the old snowpack structure is generally favourable. Hardly any fractures deeper in the snowpack are to be expected there.

Furthermore, some medium-sized and occasionally also large gliding avalanches are still possible, especially at altitudes between 2000 and 2500 m.

Weather forecast for Sunday, 07.01.2024

It will be very cloudy and there will be widespread snowfall down to low altitudes, mostly in the north. It will be dry on the central part of the southern flank of the Alps.

New snow

From Saturday afternoon to Sunday afternoon, the following amounts of fresh snow are expected above approximately 800 m:

• eastern Jura, northern flank of the Alps, excluding the Vaud Alps and Chablais: 15 to 25 cm, in the Prealps up to 30 cm;
• Chablais, Vaud Alps, extreme west of Lower Valais, rest of the Gotthard region, Grisons excluding Moesano: 10 to 20 cm;
• less elsewhere.

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, -8 °C in the north and -3 °C in the south.

Wind

• There will be moderate to strong Bise winds in the Prealps and Jura.
• There will be a strong northerly wind in the south.
• Elsewhere, the wind will be weak to moderate, with a moderate to strong northeasterly wind at high altitudes.

Weather review for Saturday, 06.01.2024

It was very cloudy and there was widespread precipitation, especially during the night. The snowfall level was between 600 and 1200 m.

New snow

Since Friday, the following amounts of fresh snow have been recorded above 1400 m:

• central part of the southern flank of the Alps, Main Alpine Ridge from the Lukmanier Pass to the Bernina Pass, Upper Engadine: 25 to 40 cm;
• Chablais, Vaud Alps and Fribourg Alps, southern Visp valleys, rest of the Gotthard region, rest of central Grisons: 15 to 25 cm;
• elsewhere: widespread 10 to 15 cm, less in the Jura.

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, -5 °C in the north and -2 °C in the south.

Wind

There was a mostly weak to moderate wind, and an increasingly strong northerly wind on the central part of the southern flank of the Alps as the day progressed.

Trend until Tuesday, 09.01.2024

Monday will be mostly cloudy with a little snow during the night. Strong Bise winds will continue to blow in the north. The temperature at 2000 m will be -8 °C in the north and -4 °C in the west and south. The avalanche danger will decrease slightly across the board.

Tuesday will be partly sunny in the north and cloudy with little precipitation in the south. In the north, the temperature at 2000 m will rise to -2 °C, while in the south it will drop to -6 °C . There will be a light wind. The avalanche danger will decrease.