Gruyère

Snowpack

Especially on shady slopes above approximately 2400 m and generally in high Alpine regions, there are faceted, long-lasting weak layers deep in the old snowpack. In many places in western and northern regions with heavy snow, these layers are overlaid with deep fresh snow and so can no longer be easily triggered by winter sports participants. Avalanches triggered in the last few days show that any avalanches that are triggered in these deep layers can still become large, while in other regions with markedly less snow, avalanches can more easily be triggered in deep layers of old snow, where they are usually no greater than medium size.

On Tuesday, moderate to occasionally strong southerly winds at high altitudes and in regions of the north exposed to the foehn wind resulted in mostly small snowdrift accumulations, which are in some cases nonetheless prone to triggering.

Gliding avalanche activity is decreasing, but in the west and on the northern flank of the Alps, small to medium gliding avalanches are still possible.

Weather forecast to Wednesday

There will be sunny intervals in the mountains in the west, while in the east it will be quite sunny. Conditions will be mostly very cloudy on the Main Alpine Ridge and south of there.

Fresh snow

A few flakes are possible on the Main Alpine Ridge and south of there as well as in the Jura.

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, between -1 °C in the north and -3 °C in the south

Wind

From southerly directions:

• often moderate on the Main Alpine Ridge and the Northern Alpine Ridge
• elsewhere mostly light

Weather review for Tuesday

On the central part of the southern flank of the Alps and from Upper Valais through central Switzerland to central Grisons, it was mostly very cloudy; elsewhere it was very sunny, especially in the west and east.

Fresh snow

A few flakes on the southern flank of the Alps

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m a widespread -2 °C

Wind

Southerly

• moderate at high altitudes, occasionally strong in regions exposed to the foehn wind
• generally decreasing over the course of the day

Outlook

On Thursday there will be low stratus cloud in the north up to around 1000 m, with sunny intervals above it. Conditions will be very cloudy on the southern flank of the Alps, with a little snow falling above approximately 1200 m. Winds will be mostly moderate from southerly directions at high altitudes. On Friday, there will be variable cloud cover in the north with bright intervals primarily in the Bernese Oberland and Valais. On the southern flank of the Alps, conditions will be mostly sunny over the course of the day. There will be up to 5 cm of snowfall in many regions. The wind will be a moderate northerly, especially along the Main Alpine Ridge. Otherwise winds will be mostly light.

Avalanche risk will not change significantly. Some small, easily triggerable snowdrifts will form in places. Avalanches, possibly large, may still be triggered in places in the old snowpack, especially on steep north-facing slopes at high altitudes. Isolated gliding avalanches are possible in regions with deep snow in the west and north.