Waadtländer Voralpen

Snowpack

The new snow of the last 3 days is lying on a dry old snow surface only on very steep northern slopes in the high Alpine regions. Otherwise, the fresh snow was deposited on old snow that was heavily soaked by the rain, especially in those regions exposed to heavier precipitation.

The snowpack is water-saturated on southern slopes up to the high Alpine regions, on eastern and western slopes up to a good 3000 m, and on northern slopes up to a maximum of 2800 m. At these altitudes, this was the first time the old weak layers had become moist, resulting in temporary weakening. The significant cooling and fresh snow will prevent further saturation of the snowpack. This will decrease the danger of wet avalanches.

Weather forecast to Tuesday

The night into Tuesday will only be partly clear in Valais and the south, otherwise it will be mostly cloudy and a little precipitation will fall over a wide area. During the day, brighter spells will initially be possible, especially in Valais and on the central part of the southern flank of the Alps. Otherwise it will be mostly cloudy. Showers are expected in the afternoon, especially on the southern flank of the Alps.

Fresh snow

The snowfall level will be between 1500 and 1900 m in the north and around 2200 m in the south. At high altitudes

• 5-15 cm will fall in the Engadine
• Elsewhere less or it will remain dry

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, between 0 °C in the north and +3 °C in the south

Wind

• Light to moderate Bise wind along the Prealps
• Elsewhere slightly windy

Weather review for Monday

It was overcast and precipitation fell. This was persistent and intense in the regions exposed to heavier precipitation during the night into Monday, with showers occurring during the day. The snowfall level dropped from 2400 m to 1600 m in the north and from 2800 m to 2300 m in the south.

Fresh snow

From Sunday to Monday afternoon, the following amounts fell above about 2600 m in the north and above about 3000 m in the south:

• From central Ticino and Moesano to Vals: 60 to 80 cm
• From the Lukmanier Pass via the western parts of northern and central Grisons to Prättigau and the Upper Engadine: 40 to 60 cm
• Northern flank of the Alps, rest of Ticino, eastern parts of northern and central Grisons, Lower Engadine: mostly 20 to 40 cm
• Valais: up to 20 cm

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, between 0 °C in the north and +4 °C in the south

Wind

Light, moderate at times

• On the northern flank of the Alps: Bise wind
• Elsewhere: southerly winds

Outlook

It will be generally cloudy on Wednesday and mostly very cloudy on Thursday, especially in the north. On Thursday, brighter spells are possible in Valais, on the southern flank of the Alps and in the Engadine. Precipitation will fall on the southern flank of the Alps during the night into Wednesday and also during the day in the north. On the central part of the Main Alpine Ridge and to the south of it, 10 to 20 cm of snow will fall above approximately 2500 m, otherwise less. There will be only be a little precipitation in the form of showers on Thursday. The wind will blow from various directions and be generally light. In the high Alpine regions, it will be moderate at times from the south.

The risk of dry avalanches will slowly decrease. Wet avalanches are still possible in isolated cases, especially as a consequence of solar radiation from the fresh snow.