Waadtländer Voralpen

In the west a considerable avalanche danger will be encountered over a wide area.

Snowpack

At the end of October in the high alpine regions, atop the glaciers and in north-facing gullies and bowls above approximately 2800 m there was already a multi-layered but often still thin snowpack. In the Bernina region at high alpine altitudes there was already a thick snow cover. Since the beginning of November, the high altitude regions have been snowed in, and over the last few days there was snowfall down to intermediate altitudes, with heavy precipitation registered in the western regions. Across the flat-surface fields where automated measurements are recorded there was 20 to 40 cm of snow on the ground at 2500 m over widespread areas, in the western and the southern regions 40 to 60 cm, in the northern and furthermost western parts of the Lower Valais as much as 100 cm of snow. As a consequence of strong to storm-velocity southwesterly winds on the weekend, snowdrift accumulations were generated over widespread areas including distant from ridgeline zones. In the western regions more than anywhere else, these snowdrift accumulations are large-sized. Summits and ridgelines are frequently quite windblown of snow, and the snow cover shows severe effects of wind impact. Most of the deposited snow lies in gullies and bowls.

Weather forecast through Monday, 06.11.2023

This round of precipitation will come to an end on Sunday evening. On Monday in the northern and the western regions, conditions are expected to be variable accompanied by bright intervals and showers, falling as snow above approximately 1500 m. In the southern regions and in the furthermost eastern regions it will be partly sunny.

Fresh snow

Between Sunday evening and Monday afternoon, the following amounts of fresh snow are anticipated above approximately 2000 m:

• furthermost western part of the Lower Valais, northern Valais, Vaud Alps: 5 to 10 cm;
• in the remaining regions of Switzerland, only a few centimetres, or else it will remain dry.

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, 0 °C.

Wind

Winds will be westerly to southwesterly,

• blowing at moderate to strong velocity in the western and the northern regions;
• blowing at moderate strength at high altitudes in the southern and eastern regions.

Observed weather review Sunday, 05.11.2023

Saturday night, precipitation fell over a wide area, very intense and heavy in the west. During the daytime hours on Sunday, this round of precipitation continued in the western and northern regions. The snowfall level lay at 1300 to 1700 m. In the southern and eastern regions it was predominantly dry during the daytime hours and partly sunny.

Fresh snow

Between Friday evening and Sunday afternoon, the following overall amounts of snowfall were registered above approximately 2200 m:

• northern and furthermost western parts of the Lower Valais, Lötschental: 50 to 70 cm, as much as 90 cm from place to place in the furthermost western regions;
• Vaud Alps, western sector of Bernese Oberland, remaining parts of Valais not including the southern part of Upper Valais: 30 to 50 cm;
• eastern sector of Berrnese Oberland, southern part of Upper Valais, remaining parts of the Gotthard region: 15 to 30 cm;
• in the remaining regions of Switzerland: 5 to 15 cm.

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, 0 °C.

Wind

• Winds on Saturday night in the western and the northern regions was blowing at strong to storm strength, on Sunday during the daytime hours at moderate to strong velocity, from southwesterly directions;
• in the southern and the eastern regions, winds was blowing predominantly at moderate strength from southwesterly directions at high altitudes.

Outlook through Wednesday, 08.11.2023

On Monday night in the western regions, a small amount of precipitation is anticipated. During the daytime hours on Tuesday, it will be partly sunny in the northern regions, predominantly sunny in the southern regions. On Wednesday it is expected to be predominantly sunny. The westerly winds will be blowing at light to moderate strength on both days. The zero-degree level will lie at 1500 m. Avalanche danger levels are expected to decrease. In the western and the northern regions more than anywhere else, the situation for winter sports will still be delicate at high altitudes, particularly on Tuesday.