Bex-Villars

Snowpack

The large amount of new snow in the south over the last six days is increasingly settling and consolidating. Below approximately 2000 m, it has become moist. The snowdrift layers have also largely stabilised in the north.

In general, the new snow and wind slabs of recent days overlay a mostly compact old snowpack, mostly containing many crusts and, between them, layers with a faceted crystal structure. Only a few avalanches originating in these deeper layers have been observed recently. However, when deeper layers do fracture, avalanches can be surprisingly large.

Individual gliding avalanches are still possible, especially on east-, south- and west-facing slopes below approximately 2400 m and more rarely on north-facing slopes. These may occasionally be large.

Weather forecast until Thursday, 29.02.2024

After a mostly clear night in the mountains, it will be mainly sunny during the day in the north, above the low stratus cloud. On the southern flank of the Alps, it will be very cloudy during the day.

New snow

-

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, between +4 °C in the north and +1 °C in the south.

Wind

There will be a southerly wind:

• mostly weak during Wednesday night into Thursday;
• increasing during the day and moderate at high altitudes, with a moderate foehn wind in the Alpine valleys of the north.

Weather review for Wednesday, 28.02.2024

It was very cloudy during the night and in the late morning. In the early morning, the precipitation ended in the south. It turned increasingly sunny in the afternoon.

New snow

The snowfall level was between 1500 m and 1800 m. From Tuesday midday to Wednesday morning, the following amounts of fresh snow fell:

• from Monte Rosa to the Simplon region: 20 to 40 cm;
• rest of the Main Alpine Ridge in Valais, Bedretto, northern Valle Maggia and Bernina region: 10 to 20 cm;
• other parts of the Main Alpine Ridge and south of this: less;
• dry in the north.

This means that the following snowfall totals have been recorded over the past six days, since Thursday:

• central part of the southern flank of the Alps, Main Alpine Ridge from the Rheinwald to the Bernina region as well as Bivio and Upper Engadine: 80 to 120 cm, locally up to 150 cm;
• western Lower Valais, rest of the Main Alpine Ridge from the Simplon to the Gotthard region, central Grisons, Lower Engadine and Val Müstair: 40 to 80 cm;
• rest of Valais and northern Grisons: 20 to 40 cm;
• further north: less.

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, around +1 °C.

Wind

• In the western part of the Northern Alpine Ridge, there were occasionally strong southerly winds at high altitudes.
• A moderate Bise wind blew in the western Prealps.
• Otherwise the wind was mostly weak from the east.

Trend until Saturday, 02.03.2024

Friday will be very cloudy with frequent precipitation, especially on the southern flank of the Alps. The snowfall level will drop from 1500 m to 1000 m in the north. It will be around 1400 m in the south. On Saturday, it will be very cloudy along the Main Alpine Ridge and south of it, with further precipitation. It will be quite sunny in the north with an increasing foehn wind. On both days, a total of 20 to 40 cm of snow will fall on the Main Alpine Ridge and south of it, and 10 to 20 cm in the north. The danger of dry avalanches will increase, especially in the south. Gliding avalanches will still be possible.