Gruyère

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

Snowpack

After the large amount of precipitation in November, the snow depths in the west and north are well above average for the time of year. Some of this week's fresh snow and snowdrift accumulations are still prone to triggering. There are various melt-freeze crusts in the centre of the snowpack. In some cases, angular, weak layers have formed in this area. Some avalanches have been reported in these layers in recent days. With new fallen snow and stormy weather, extensive snowdrift accumulations prone to triggering will develop at high altitudes on Thursday. Below 1800 to 2200 m, the snowpack will become moist with the rain and thus weakened.

Weather forecast through Thursday, 30.11.2023

It is very cloudy. During Wednesday night, a warm front from the west will gradually bring precipitation. In the far west, orographic precipitation will be intense from the second half of the night. The snowfall level will rise rapidly to around 2200 m in the west and around 1400 to 1800 m in the centre and east. There will be little precipitation in the south and in Grisons.

Fresh snow

From Wednesday evening to Thursday afternoon, the following amounts of fresh snow are expected in the west above approximately 2400 m, and in east above approximately 2000 m:

• extreme west of Lower Valais and northern Lower Valais: 30 to 50 cm, and up to 70 cm on the border with France;
• other parts of Lower Valais, the northern Alpine Ridge from the Lötschental to the Muota Valley: 20 to 40 cm;
• other parts of Valais, the Gotthard region and the northern flank of the Alps: 10 to 20 cm;
• elsewhere, widely 5 to 10 cm.

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, between +2 °C in the west, 0 °C in the east and -3 °C in the south.

Wind

• In the west and north, winds will blow at strong to storm strength from the west, easing somewhat in the afternoon.
• There will be a strong foehn wind for a time in the valleys of the north.
• In the south and southeast, winds will be moderate to strong, blowing from southwest to west.

Observed weather review Wednesday, 29.11.2023

During Tuesday night, a little snow fell in the northeast to low altitudes before clearing away everywhere. It was mostly sunny during the day. High clouds gathered in the northwest in the afternoon.

Fresh snow

During Tuesday night, 5 to 15 cm of snowfall was registered locally above approximately 800 m on the northern flank of the Alps east of the Grimsel Pass. Elsewhere there was less, or it remained dry.

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, -8 °C in the northern regions and -6 °C in the southern regions.

Wind

• Winds were weak to moderate during Tuesday night from the northwest, at high altitudes sometimes strong
• They turned to the west during Wednesday and were initially weak to moderate, becoming strong and storm force in some localities in the afternoon.

Outlook through Saturday, 02.12.2023Friday

It will be very cloudy and there will be widespread precipitation. The snowfall level will drop to around 1000 m in the west and around 700 m in the east. Around 20 to 40 cm of new fallen snow is expected in the extreme west of Lower Valais and in the Vaud Alps, as well as in the Bernina region, but these amounts are still uncertain. Elsewhere, there will be less snow. The westerly wind will still be blowing strongly overnight. During the night, the avalanche danger may increase slightly in some regions. It is expected to be partly "high" (level 4) in the west. As the day progresses, the danger of naturally triggered avalanches will decrease. Gliding avalanches will still be possible. The situation will remain critical for snow sports away from the open pistes in many places. In the Bernina region, larger amounts of new snow and even an increase to "high" (level 4) cannot be ruled out.

Saturday

In the north, it will initially be cloudy with light snowfall down to low altitudes. There will be sunny spells as the day progresses. It will be mostly sunny in the south and the northerly wind will freshen up as the day goes on. Although the avalanche danger is decreasing, it will remain precarious for off-piste winter sports.