Luganese

Snowpack

In the south, the weekend’s fresh and drifted snow is lying on a weak old snowpack, especially on shady slopes. Avalanches can be easily triggered at the transition from fresh and drifted snow to old snow. In the north, Monday’s westerly winds and the small amount of fresh snow have resulted in the development of some mostly small snowdrift accumulations, which are nonetheless prone to triggering.

There are distinct weak layers deeper in the old snowpack, especially on wind-protected shady slopes. Such places are particularly common south of a line from the Rhone to the Rhine. In these weak layers, medium-sized and occasionally large avalanches can still be triggered in the old snow by human activity. North of a line from the Rhone to the Rhine, the deeper layers of the snowpack are somewhat less prone to triggering and hazardous zones are less common.

Weather forecast to Tuesday

Conditions will initially be very sunny in the east and south. Otherwise, clouds will rapidly gather from the west. In the afternoon, a light scattering of snow will fall in the Jura above approximately 1500 m.

Fresh snow

-

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, between +2°C in the north and -5°C in the south

Wind

• Initially moderate, but becoming increasingly strong from the southwest over the course of the day
• A sometimes strong foehn wind in the Alpine valleys of the north

Weather review for Monday

During the night, a little snow fell in the north down to low altitudes, while during the day, conditions brightened gradually from the west. In the south, conditions were very sunny.

Fresh snow

From Sunday evening to Monday morning above approximately 800 m:

• north of a line from the Rhone to the Rhine, Prättigau, Silvretta, Samnaun: 5 to 15 cm
• otherwise a widespread few centimetres

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, around -6°C

Wind

Mostly light at night, moderate during the day from westerly directions

OutlookWednesday

Precipitation will set in from the west and south overnight to Wednesday. During the day the north will also see occasional snowfall. The snowfall level will drop rapidly to low altitudes. Western Jura and the extreme west of Lower Valais, the Main Alpine Ridge and south of there can expect a widespread 10 to 20 cm of snow, with up to 40 cm in Val Moesa, Val Bregaglia and the Bernina region. Otherwise, a widespread 5 to 10 cm of snow is forecast. There will be strong southerly winds at night, with a strong foehn wind in the Alpine valleys. During the day, the wind will drop significantly. Avalanche risk will increase in many areas, especially significantly along the Main Alpine Ridge and south of there.

Thursday

On Thursday morning, some snow will continue to fall down to low altitudes in the east. During the day brighter periods will increasingly move in from the west and south. There will continue to be a strong westerly wind in the north during the night. During the day the wind will ease significantly and become a light to moderate westerly to northerly. Avalanche risk will barely change compared to the previous day.