Bex-Villars

In the west and in the north a high avalanche danger will be encountered over a wide area.

The large quantity of fresh snow and the wind slabs are lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack. More natural dry avalanches are possible. These can release the entire snowpack and reach large size in some cases. The danger exists primarily in alpine snow sports terrain. Transportation routes situated at higher altitudes can be endangered occasionally. Even single winter sport participants can release avalanches very easily. The snow sport conditions outside marked and open pistes are very critical.

As the penetration by moisture increases medium-sized to large wet avalanches are possible below approximately 2200 m.

Snowpack The fresh fallen snow and freshly generated snowdrifts are deposited on top of soft layers consisting of faceted crystals over widespread areas above approximately 2200 m. These layers constitute a weak snow base, for that reason numerous naturally-triggered avalanches are expected, particularly in the western and the northern regions, by the time this period of precipitation comes to an end on Saturday afternoon. In those zones the snowpack became wet up to 2200 m, and moist up to approximately 2500 m as a consequence of the mild temperatures. Dry-snow avalanches which fracture at high altitudes can sweep away the entire thoroughly wet snowpack below 2000 to 2500 m. In steep, shady avalanche starting zones, more than anywhere else, these releases can plummet down to intermediate altitudes. As a consequence of rainfall, wet-snow avalanches continue to be expected below 2000 to 2500 m. Since there is still only a small amount of overall snow on the ground, the risks are limited in general to ski touring and freeriding terrain. Observed weather review Friday, 23.12.2022 In the western and the northern regions, persistent and intensive precipitation was registered. The snowfall level swiftly ascended and in northern regions lay at approximately 2200 m, in western regions at 2400 m in some places. In Goms and in Grisons, the snowfall level remained below 2000 m in some areas. In the southern regions it remained dry and, in some places, sunny during the daytime hours. Fresh snow Between Thursday afternoon and Friday afternoon, the following amounts of fresh snow were registered above approximately 2500 m:

• furthermost western part of Lower Valais as well as the northern Alpine Ridge west of the Wildstrubel: 50 to 80 cm;
• northern Alpine Ridge from the Wildstrubel as far as the Grimsel: 40 to 50 cm;
• remaining regions of the northern Alpine Ridge and of the Lower Valais: 30 to 40 cm;
• southern part of Upper Valais and northern part of Prättigau: 15 to 30 cm;
• in the remaining regions of Switzerland, less than 15 cm; in the furthermost south it remained dry.

Temperature At midday at 2000 m, approximately +2 °C. Wind Winds in the northern regions and in general at high altitudes were blowing at strong to storm-strength from westerly directions. Weather forecast through Saturday, 24.12.2022 During the course of Friday night, ongoingly intensive snowfall is expected in the northern regions and the furthermost western regions. The snowfall level will descend down to nearly 1800 m in the western regions, to nearly 1600 m in the eastern regions towards the end of this period of precipitation. During the daytime hours, only a small amount of precipitation is anticipated, but skies will remain heavily overcast. In the furthermost southern regions, it will remain predominantly sunny and dry. Fresh snow Between Friday afternoon and Saturday midday, the following amounts of fresh snow are expected above approximately 2500 m:

• furthermost western part of Lower Valais, northern Alpine Ridge west of the Wildstrubel, northern Alpine Ridge from the Aletsch region as far as the Tödi: 30 to 50 cm;
• remaining regions of the northern Alpine Ridge, remaining parts of Valais, northern Prättigau 20 to 40 cm;
• in the remaining regions of Switzerland, less than 15 cm; in the furthermost south it will remain dry.

Temperature At midday at 2000 m, approximately +2 °C. Wind Winds in the northern regions and in general at heightened altitudes will be blowing at strong velocity, intermittently at storm strength, from westerly directions. Outlook through Monday, 26.12.2022 Sunday It will be predominantly sunny and mild. The zero-degree level is expected to ascend to 3000 m. Winds at elevated altitudes will be blowing at moderate to strong velocity from westerly directions. The danger of dry-snow naturally-triggered avalanches will decrease. However, winter sports enthusiasts can still trigger avalanches with ease in many regions, including dangerously large-sized releases. As a consequence of the higher temperatures and solar radiation, moist-snow avalanches can be expected at high altitudes. Monday To begin with it will be quite sunny. During the course of the day, clouds will move in from the west and in the northern regions precipitation will set in during the course of the afternoon. The snowfall level is expected to descend from approximately 2000 m down to nearly 1500 m. In the southern regions it will remain dry. The danger of dry-snow avalanches will decrease slightly. For winter sports enthusiasts, however, the situation in outlying terrain away from the secured ski runs will remain critical.