Gruyère

At elevated altitudes a considerable avalanche danger will be encountered in some regions.

As a consequence of a sometimes strong bise wind, wind slabs formed on Saturday. The avalanche prone locations are to be found especially in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. Mostly avalanches are small. Apart from the danger of being buried, restraint should be exercised as well in view of the danger of avalanches sweeping people along and giving rise to falls.

Snowpack As a consequence of moderate to strong-velocity northeasterly winds and increasingly strong bise wind, snowdrift accumulations were generated in the Prealps as well as in general at elevated altitudes on Saturday. The freshly generated snowdrifts, which now blanket somewhat older snowdrift layers which were generated last week, are still triggerable only in extremely isolated cases. In more deeply embedded layers inside the snow cover, expansively metamorphosed (faceted) layers of snow are evident, particularly on north-facing slopes above 2200 m and on south-facing sloeps above approximately 2800 m. These weakened layers are prone to triggering in some places, particularly in the southern Valais and in Grisons. Observed weather review Saturday, 21.01.2023 In the northern and the eastern regions, skies were predominantly overcast. There was a small amount of intermittent snowfall registered. The snowfall level lay at low lying areas. In the Valais and in the southern regions it was quite sunny. Fresh snow Between Friday afternoon and Saturday midday, the following amounts of fresh snow were registered:

• Alpstein, Liechtenstein, Prättigau: 5 to 10 cm;
• in the remaining regions of Switzerland it was predominantly dry.

Temperature At midday at 2000 m, between -13 °C in the northern regions and -9 °C in the southern regions. Wind Winds were blowing at moderate to strong velocity from northeasterly directions. Weather forecast through Sunday, 22.01.2023 In the Valais and in the southern regions it is expected to be quite sunny. Apart from bright intervals in the inneralpine regions of Grisons; skies will be heavily overcast in the other regions of Switzerland. Intermittently in the northern and the eastern regions, a small amount of snowfall is possible. The snowfall level will lie at low lying areas. Fresh snow Between Saturday afternoon and Sunday afternoon, the following amounts of fresh snow are anticipated:

• Alpstein, Liechtenstein: 5 cm; in the other regions of Switzerland, less;
• in the Valais and on the southern flank of the Alps it is expected to remain dry.

Temperature At midday at 2000 m, between -12 °C in the northern regions and -7 °C in the southern regions. Wind

• Winds during the nocturnal hours will be blowing at moderate to strong velocity from northeasterly directions;
• during the daytime hours, winds will be blowing at light to moderate strength, ongoingly at strong velocity in the Jura region, from easterly directions.

Outlook through Tuesday, 24.01.2023 On both days it is expected to be quite sunny above the high fogbanks (ceiling will be at approximately 2000 m). In the Lower Engadine and in Val Müstair, intermittent snowfall is possible. Avalanche danger levels are expected to incrementally decrease.