Gruyère

Snowpack

The fresh snow from the last few days has been transported by the intermittently strong westerly and northerly winds, resulting in widespread snowdrift accumulations. These are increasingly settling and stabilising but, especially on north-facing slopes, they are lying on a loose, faceted surface and are still prone to triggering in places.

In southern Valais, Ticino and Grisons, the snowpack often contains several soft layers of faceted crystals, making the structure unfavourable. Snowpack structure is most unfavourable in the Engadine and the neighbouring southern valleys of Grisons.

However, hardly any avalanches have been reported in recent days. In addition, gliding avalanche activity has decreased significantly with the lower temperatures.

Weather forecast to Friday

A few more centimetres of snow will fall during the night on the central and eastern parts of the northern flank of the Alps. During the day conditions will remain cloudy in the north-east, otherwise it will be mostly sunny.

Fresh snow

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Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, between -6 °C in the north and -3 °C in the south

Wind

• Moderate westerly during the night to Friday in the north, mostly light during the day
• Moderate Bise wind in the Jura as the day progresses

Weather review for Thursday

In the north, conditions were cloudy and snow fell at times down to low altitudes. Ticino and Grisons were mostly sunny.

Fresh snow

From Wednesday evening to Thursday afternoon, 5 to 10 cm of snow fell on the central and eastern parts of the northern flank of the Alps.

Consequently, between the onset of precipitation on Tuesday morning and Thursday afternoon, the following amounts fell above approximately 1600 m:

• extreme west of Lower Valais, Vaud and Fribourg Alps: 20 to 30 cm
• Jura, central and remaining western parts of the northern flank of the Alps and Ticino: 10 to 20 cm
• elsewhere a few centimetres or dry

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, between -4 °C in the north and -1 °C in the south

Wind

In the north

• mostly moderate from westerly directions, easing as the day progresses

In the south

• overnight moderate to strong from the north, in the valleys moderate foehn wind from the north
• during the day, light to moderate westerly to northwesterly

Outlook

On Saturday and Sunday conditions will be mostly sunny in the mountains, with a few showers possible in the south. There will be moderate Bise winds in the Jura and the Prealps, otherwise winds will mostly be light. The zero-degree level will be 1200 m on Saturday and 1600 m on Sunday.

The danger of dry avalanches will decrease slightly.