Bex-Villars

Snowpack

This week's new and drifted snow is lying on a continuous snowpack above approximately 2800 m and generally in glaciated high Alpine regions. Especially on north-facing slopes, some deeper layers of the snowpack are faceted. Due to the strong to storm-force winds from the west, snow distribution is very irregular.

Especially in the north and in Valais, large volumes of new snow and stormy conditions are resulting in significant snowdrift accumulations, particularly at a distance from ridgelines. In addition, gliding avalanches are possible in regions with significant new snowfall.

Weather forecast to Monday

There will be widespread precipitation, heavy in the north. Only in the far south will there be relatively long brighter intervals. The snowfall level will still be around 1000 m at night, rising to 1500 m in the north-east and 1900 m in the west and south during the day.

New snow

From Sunday afternoon to Monday afternoon, above approximately 2000 m:

• extreme west of Lower Valais, Northern Alpine Ridge: 30 to 50 cm, from the eastern Bernese Oberland to the Glarus Alps locally up to 60 cm
• rest of northern flank of the Alps, rest of Lower Valais, southern Goms, rest of Gotthard region, rest of northern Grisons: 15 to 30 cm
• rest of southern Upper Valais, central Grisons: 5 to 15 cm; elsewhere a few centimetres or dry

Temperature

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

Wind

Strong to storm-force from west to northwest

Weather review for Sunday

There was widespread snowfall in the north. The snowfall level dropped from 1700 m to 1200 m. There were relatively extended clear intervals from Upper Valais via Ticino to Upper Engadine.

New snow

From Saturday afternoon to Sunday afternoon above approximately 2000 m:

• Northern Alpine Ridge: 15 to 30 cm
• rest of northern flank of the Alps, southern Valais, rest of northern Grisons: 5 to 15 cm, elsewhere less or no snow

Over the two days from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon:

• Northern Alpine Ridge: 20 to 40 cm, in the west up to 60 cm
• rest of northern flank of the Alps, southern Valais, other parts of northern Grisons: 15 to 30 cm, elsewhere less or no snow

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m between -3°C in the north and +3°C in the far south

Wind

Moderate to strong, in Grisons and Ticino weak to moderate from westerly directions

Outlook

Overnight to Tuesday, around a further 10 cm of snow will fall in the north, Valais and in northern and central Grisons. The snowfall level will be around 1800 m in the west and 1400 m in the east. Conditions will be mainly sunny during the day. There will be a moderate westerly wind. Wednesday will be very sunny in the north. High clouds will gather from the west in the afternoon. Conditions will be cloudy, but mostly dry, in the south. The zero-degree level will rise to 3000 m in the north and 2400 m in the south. There will be light to moderate southwesterly winds, with moderate foehn winds in the Alpine valleys in the north.

The risk of dry avalanches will decrease, albeit slowly on shady slopes in the high Alpine regions. Sunny conditions and rising temperatures mean that wet and gliding avalanches are to be expected, possibly medium-sized in regions with significant new snowfall.