Gruyère

Considerable avalanche danger will be encountered in some regions.

Only a little snow is lying. As a consequence of northeasterly wind, mostly small wind slabs formed especially adjacent to ridgelines as well as at elevated altitudes. Individual avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular in extremely steep terrain. Restraint should be exercised because avalanches can sweep people along and give rise to falls.

Snowpack The snowpack layering above 2000 m is weak over widespread areas. The lowermost layers of the snowpack are expansively metamorphosed (faceted) in many areas and loose, in some regions this is the case for the entire snowpack. Freshly generated and also somewhat older snowdrift accumulations have been deposited on top of this unfavourable snow cover in many regions and can frequently be unleashed with great ease. Avalanches can in some places fracture down to more deeply embedded layers inside the snow cover. Below approximately 2000 m the snowpack on the northern flank of the Alps and in the Jura region shows great impact from higher temperatures. The snow depths in the furthermost western part of the Lower Valais are average at high altitudes. In the remaining regions of Switzerland the snow depths are far below average and amount to only 50 to 70% of the long-term average values. At 2000 m in the western and northern Lower Valais, as well as in the western part of Ticino there is 50 to 80 cm of snow on the ground, in the other regions of Switzerland only 30 to 50 cm over far-reaching areas. Observed weather review Thursday, 15.12.2022 On Wednesday evening there was a small amount of precipitation registered. Subsequently, skies cleared up temporarily during the nocturnal hours. During the daytime on Thursday, skies were overcast and towards midday precipitation set in from the southwest. The snowfall level lay between 1500 and 2000 m. Fresh snow In the western regions above approximately 2000 m there was a few centimetres of fresh snow, in the other regions of Switzerland it remained dry for the most part. Temperature At midday at 2000 m, temperatures lay at approximately +1 °C in the northern regions and -3 °C in the southern regions. Wind Winds were blowing predominantly at moderate strength from westerly to southwesterly directions. Weather forecast through Friday, 16.12.2022 Skies will be overcast. Over widespread areas, precipitation is anticipated. The snowfall level on Thursday evening will lie between 1200 and 1500 m, subsequently the snowfall level will descend down to low lying areas on Thursday night. Fresh snow Between Thursday afternoon and Friday afternoon above approximately 1500 m:

• furthermost western parts of Lower Valais, Vaud and Fribourg Alps, as well as from Val Bregaglia into the Bernina region: 20 to 30 cm;
• remaining parts of the western and central sectors of the northern flank of the Alps, remaining parts of Valais and the southern flank of the Alps: 10 to 20 cm;
• in the remmaining regions of Switzerland: 5 to 10 cm.

Temperature At midday at 2000 m between -4 °C in the northern regions and -1 °C in the southern regions. Wind Winds on Thursday evening will be blowing at moderate to strong velocity from southwesterly directions at high altitudes. Subsequently, winds in the Alps will slacken off and shift to northerly. In the Jura region, a moderate strength bise wind will be blowing. Outlook through Sunday, 18.12.2022 On Friday night there will initially be very little precipitation. Subsequently, skies will clear. On Saturday and Sunday it will be predominantly sunny. On Saturday the zero-degree level will be at low lying areas to start with, subsequently it will ascend during the afternoon starting from the west. On Sunday it will be quite mild. The zero-degree level will lie between 2000 m in the eastern regions and 2400 m in the western regions. Avalanche danger levels are expected to gradually decrease. As a consequence of solar radiation and the mild temperatures, moist slides are possible during the course of the day.