Zermatt

Snowpack

With new fallen snow and wind, wind slabs formed on Monday, especially at high altitudes. These are prone to triggering in places.

In addition, around the crusts in the top section of the snowpack, weak layers with a sometimes faceted crystal structure have been deposited. These weak layers are sometimes prone to triggering, especially in southern Upper Valais and in the inneralpine regions of Grisons. Deep layers of the snowpack are compact in many places and most do not contain distinct weak layers.

With warmer temperatures and solar radiation, the new snow will become moist up to high altitudes, and many loose snow slides are expected, especially on east-, south- and west-facing slopes. Furthermore, gliding avalanches are to be expected, primarily on east-, south- and west-facing slopes below approximately 2600 m and more rarely on north-facing slopes. These may be large.

Weather forecast until Tuesday, 19.03.2024

During Monday night into Tuesday, the precipitation will end in the east and skies will clear from the west. During the day, it will be generally mostly sunny.

New snow

-

Temperature

Tempatures will rise. At midday at 2000 m, it will be between +3 °C in the west and +1° C in the east.

Wind

• During Monday night into Tuesday, on and to the south of the Main Alpine Ridge, there will still be a moderate to strong northerly wind.
• During the day, winds will be mostly light, blowing from the north.

Weather review for Monday, 18.03.2024

It was very cloudy and precipitation fell into the afternoon.

New snow

The snowfall level was 2200 m in the west and 1800 m in the east. The following amounts of fresh snow fell:

• extreme west of Lower Valais, Northern Alpine Ridge: 15 to 30 cm, and locally more;
• rest of Lower Valais, southern Goms, northern Grisons: 10 to 20 cm;
• less elsewhere.

Temperature

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

Wind

There was a westerly to northwesterly wind:

• moderate to strong in the morning in the west, otherwise still mostly light;
• moderate to strong in the afternoon on the Northern Alpine Ridge, otherwise light to moderate.

TrendWednesday

In the event of a clear night into Wednesday, the surface of the snowpack will cool down well. During the day, it will be mostly sunny and mild with mostly light winds.

The danger of dry avalanches will decrease. Gliding avalanches are still to be expected.

Thursday

Wednesday night into Thursday is likely to be mostly cloudy. During the day, it will be cloudy at times in the north with some precipitation, although the amounts are still uncertain. The snowfall level will be around 2000 m. It will be partly sunny in the south.

The danger of dry avalanches may increase slightly in some regions. Gliding avalanches are still to be expected.