Luganese

Snowpack

There is less snow than is usual at this time of year in most regions. Only in northern Lower Valais are snow depths about average. On southern slopes and generally below 2400 m, the snowpack is mostly wet or has frozen solid.

At high altitudes on the Main Alpine Ridge and to the south of there, this week’s fresh snow is lying on a thin but weak old snowpack of faceted crystals.

Particularly in the inneralpine regions of Valais and throughout Grisons, there are sometimes pronounced weak layers of faceted crystals or surface hoar in the snowpack, especially on northern and eastern slopes above approximately 2400 m. However, hardly any avalanches have been triggered in these layers for some days.

Further north, the structure of the snowpack is more favourable.

Despite the strong southerly wind, only small local snowdrift accumulations have formed, as there was hardly any transportable snow left.

Weather forecast to Monday

Cloudy in the south, elsewhere very sunny despite patches of high-altitude cloud. A few snowflakes may fall on the Main Alpine Ridge in Valais.

Fresh snow

-

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, between +4°C in the north and -2°C in the south

Wind

• Moderate to strong southerly winds in the north, easing during the day
• Strong foehn wind during the night and in the morning in the alpine valleys of the north
• Mostly light in the south

Weather review for Sunday

Conditions were very sunny in many parts of the mountains of the north. Some snow fell in southern Valais and western Ticino, especially during the night. The snowfall level was around 1500 m.

Fresh snow

From Saturday afternoon to Sunday afternoon, the following amounts of snow fell above approximately 1800 m:

• Main Alpine Ridge of Valais, Bedretto, Upper Valle Maggia: 5 to 10 cm

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, between +6°C in the north and 0°C in the south

Wind

• Strong southerly winds, moderate in the north, during the day
• Mostly light winds in the south

Outlook to Wednesday

A little snow will fall in the south on both days. A total of 5 to 10 cm of snow may fall on the Main Alpine Ridge and south of there. The snowfall level will be around 1500 m on Tuesday and will drop to around 900 m on Wednesday. In the north, conditions will be very sunny in the mountains on Tuesday and there will be sunny intervals on Wednesday, with little likelihood of precipitation.

There will be no significant change in avalanche risk.