Bex-Villars

In the west a considerable avalanche danger will be encountered in some regions.

The fresh and older wind slabs can be released by a single winter sport participant. Avalanches can in some cases penetrate near-ground layers of the snowpack and reach dangerously large size. Backcountry touring and other off-piste activities call for experience in the assessment of avalanche danger.

Snowpack Snow depths in the furthermost western part of the Valais at high altitudes are average for this juncture of the season, in all other regions of Switzerland snow depths are below average. At 2500 m the snow depth in the western Lower Valais and in the northwestern part of Ticino amounts to approximately 80 cm. In the remaining regions of Switzerland snow depths over widespread areas measure 40 to 60 cm, in the central Valais and in central Grisons even less from place to place. On shady slopes above approximately 2200 to 2400 m more than anywhere else, there are weak, expansively metamorphosed (faceted) layers evident over widespread areas deeply embedded inside the snow cover. Avalanches can fracture down to these layers in some regions. As a consequence of the higher temperatures and weak rainfall, the snowpack surface was moistened up to approximately 2000 m particularly in the Jura region, in the western part of the Lower Valais and on the northern Alpine Ridge. As temperatures drop, a crust will form. As a result of strong-velocity westerly winds in some regions, compact, often easily triggered snowdrift accumulations have been generated at elevated altitudes. Observed weather review Wednesday, 14.12.2022 On Tuesday night skies were intermittently clear. Subsequently skies became gloomy from the west and there were repeated bouts of light precipitation. Fresh snow The snowfall level lay at approximately 2000 m. In the Valais and on the northern flank of the Alps there was a small amount of snowfall over far-reaching areas. Temperature At midday at 2000 m, temperatures lay between 0 °C in the northern regions and -3 °C in the southern regions. Wind Winds were blowing from westerly to southwesterly directions,

• at moderate strength in the Jura region, on the northern flank of the Alps and in the northern Valais, up to strong velocity at elevated altitudes in particular;
• in the other regions of Switzerland, predominantly at light to moderate strength.

Weather forecast through Thursday, 15.12.2022 During the nocturnal hours on Wednesday the light precipitation will come to an end in the northern regions and skies in the mountains will temporarily clear up, before new cloud cover moves in from the southwest. During the morning hours on Thursday, skies will still be clear in the northern regions as a result of foehn influence, in the nothern regions skies will be heavily overcast for the most part. During the afternoon, light precipitation is anticipated from the southwest. Fresh snow The snowfall level in the northern regions will lie at 1600 m on Wednesday night, during Thursday afternoon the snow level will descend further. In the southern regions it will lie at 500 m. Above that altitude a small amount of snowfall is anticipated:

• in the Valais and on the northern flank of the Alps as much as 10 cm;
• in the other regions of Switzerland, less; in Grisons in the inneralpine regions it will remain dry for the most part.

Temperature At midday at 2000 m, temperatures will lie between 0 °C in the northern regions and -3 °C in the southern regions. Wind

• Winds will still be blowing at moderate to strong velocity from westerly directions during the nocturnal hours at high altitudes in the northern regions;
• subsequently blowing at light to moderate strength from the southwest; in the northern regions foehn wind will prevail.

Outlook through Saturday, 17.12.2022 Friday Skies are expected to be heavily overcast for the most part and a small amount of precipitation is anticipated down to low lying areas. During the night, strong velocity southwesterly winds will be blowing at high altitudes, during the daytime hours the winds will slacken off and subsequently shift to northwesterly. Avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly. Saturday It will be predominantly sunny in the mountains, accompanied by light-strength northwesterly winds, blowing intermittently at moderate velocity at elevated altitudes. Avalanche danger is expected to incrementally decrease.