Wind slab
- Above 2,000 m
Snowpack
The large amount of fresh snow from the current period of precipitation is falling in many places on an unfavourable old snowpack. Particularly on western, northern and eastern slopes, there are widespread pronounced weak layers in the snowpack where avalanches may start. In the Lower Valais and on the northern Alpine ridge, these weak layers are already somewhat more thickly covered than in other regions, but are still susceptible to triggering. On the southern flank of the Alps, in the Engadine and in central Grisons, the snowpack is mainly still thin, but consequently often completely faceted.
Weather forecast to Monday, 23 December 2024
It will be very cloudy in the north. Snowfall will continue to be persistent and mostly heavy. Skies will clear on the southern flank of the Alps overnight to Monday. It will be mainly sunny there during the day.
Fresh snow
The snowfall level will be at low altitude. New snowfall to Monday evening:
Temperature
At midday at 2000 m, between -8 °C in the north and -5 °C in the south.
Wind
Strong to stormy northwesterly winds, on the southern flank of the Alps strong northerly winds down into the valleys
Weather review for Sunday, 22 December 2024
Cloud cover was heavy and there was precipitation, except in the far south.
Fresh snow
Overnight to Sunday, the snowfall level rose to around 1800 m in the north and 1000 m in the south. Snowfall from the onset of precipitation on Saturday evening until Sunday afternoon:
Temperature
Temperatures fell to between -2 °C in the north and -5 °C in the south at midday at 2000 m.
Wind
OutlookTuesday
It will be mostly sunny on the southern flank of the Alps. In the west, snow will stop falling overnight to Tuesday, then skies will clear and conditions will become quite sunny. In the east, snow will stop falling in the afternoon and there will be bright intervals in inneralpine regions. A moderate to strong northerly wind will continue to blow at high altitudes, on the southern flank of the Alps as a strong foehn wind from the north down into the valleys. It will remain cold. Avalanche danger will decrease slowly, but will in many places remain critical.
Wednesday
In the mountains it will be quite sunny and get appreciably warmer with a zero-degree level around 2000 m. The wind will ease and be mostly light to moderate from the northeast. Avalanche danger will continue to decrease slowly.
Bulletin data: WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF (CC BY 4.0)