Bex-Villars

At elevated altitudes a considerable avalanche danger will be encountered in some regions.

Snowpack

Following the rounds of snowfall in October there is now a multi-layered, but often still thin snowpack in the high alpine regions, atop the glaciers and in north-facing gullies and bowls above approximately 2800 m. In the Bernina region at high alpine altitudes there is already a thick snowpack. At high altitudes, the slopes were snowed in at the beginning of this week and there currently lies on the flat fields at 2500 m where measurements are recorded 10 to 30 cm of snow over widespread areas. The snowpack surface shows severe signs of wind impact. Only on wind-protected north-facing slopes was the snowpack surface still loosely packed in some places, thus providing a relatively unfavourable base for the fresh fallen snow on Thursday.

Weather forecast through Friday, 03.11.2023

Precipitation is expected to slacken off during the nocturnal hours and come to an end on Friday morning. The snowfall level will descend down to approximately 1000 m. During the course of the day on Friday, conditions will be variable in the northern regions accompanied by bright intervals and light snow showers above approximately 1100 m. In the southern regions it will be partly sunny as a consequence of northerly winds.

Fresh snow

Between Thursday evening and Friday afternoon above approximately 2000 m, the following amounts of fresh snow are anticipated:

• Furthermost western part of the Lower Valais, eastern sector of the northern flank of the Alps, Grisons: 20 to 30 cm, in the zone Val Bregaglia as far as Bernina as much as 40 cm;
• in the remaining regions of Switzerland, 10 to 20 cm over widespread areas.

Temperature

At midday at 2000, -4 °C in the northern regions and -2 °C in the southern regions.

Wind

• Winds in the northern regions will be blowing at moderate strength from westerly to southwesterly directions;
• in the southern regions winds will be moderate from the northwest, slackening off during the course of the day and subsequently shifting to southwesterly.

Observed weather review Thursday, 02.11.2023

In the southern and the western regions, light precipitation set in during Wednesday night which subsequently intensified during the course of the day on Thursday and then spread to the remaining regions of Switzerland. The snowfall level lay between 1700 and 2200 m.

Fresh snow

Between Wednesday evening and Thursday afternoon above approximately 2500 m, the following amounts of fresh fallen snow were registered:

• Main Alpine Ridge from the Furka Pass well into the Bernina region as well as southwards therefrom: 40 to 70 cm;
• northern and furthermost western parts of the Lower Valais: 30 to 40 cm, as much as 50 cm along the French border;
• other parts of the Valais: 15 to 30 cm;
• in the remaining parts of Switzerland: 5 to 20 cm over widespread areas.

Temperature

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

Wind

• Winds in the northern regions were blowing at strong to storm strength from southerly directions on Wednesday night, during the course of the day on Thursday blowing at moderate to strong velocity from southwesterly directions;
• in the southern regions during Wednesday night, winds were blowing at moderate to strong velocity from southerly directions, subsequently easing to light-to-moderate strength.

Outlook through Sunday, 05.11.2023

On Saturday in the eastern regions, it will be partly sunny to begin with, in the remaining regions of Switzerland skies will be predominantly overcast. During the course of the day, precipitation is expected to set in from the west. The snowfall level in the northern regions will ascend to 1600 to 2000 m. In the Valais and the southern regions the snowfall level will lie at 1200 m. On Sunday, precipitation is anticipated over widespread areas. The snowfall level in the northern regions will lie at 1500 to 1800 m, in the southern regions at 1300 m. Winds will be westerly to southwesterly, blowing at moderate to strong velocity on both days, to some extent at storm strength in the high alpine regions. In the western regions starting Saturday at midday, avalanche danger levels will increase significantly. In the remaining regions of Switzerland, avalanche danger is not expected to change significantly.