Waadtländer Voralpen

Snowpack

Avalanches may occur in the various layers of new snow and wind slabs of the past week in particular. In the north, 80 to 150 cm of snow has fallen widely since last Tuesday, which means that large avalanches are possible. Towards the south, the amount of new snow is decreasing appreciably. This also means that fresh wind slabs are smaller and avalanche-prone locations are less prevalent. In general, the amount of new snow will increase significantly with altitude and may significantly exceed the amounts described in the avalanche bulletin in the high Alpine regions.

Before the onset of the wintry weather, the old snowpack on east-, south- and west-facing slopes was soaked up to above 3000 m and on north-facing slopes up to approximately 2500 m. Falling temperatures have caused the old snowpack to stabilise. Wet and gliding avalanche activity is currently low. Mostly small gliding avalanches are expected, especially on slopes that had been free of snow prior to these snowfalls.

Weather forecast until Monday, 22.04.2024

It will remain cloudy. During the night, precipitation will temporarily ease somewhat in the north. Snowfall will set in again during the day, now also in the south. It will still be cold, and the snowfall level will be between 400 and 700 m.

New snow

From Sunday afternoon to Monday afternoon, the following amounts of fresh snow are expected above approximately 1400 m:

• Northern Alpine Ridge from Les Diablerets to Liechtenstein, Main Alpine Ridge from the Lukmanier Pass to the Bernina region and northern Prättigau: 20 to 30 cm;
• elsewhere: widely 10 to 20 cm.

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, between -7 °C in the north and -5 °C in the south.

Wind

• There will be a mostly weak to moderate northeasterly wind.
• There will be an increasingly strong Bise wind in the west.
• The high Alpine regions will see increasingly strong southeasterly winds towards the southeast.

Weather review for Sunday, 21.04.2024

It was cloudy in the north and there was some widespread snowfall above approximately 700 m. In the south, it was cloudy at times with some bright spells and was mostly dry.

New snow

From Saturday afternoon to Sunday afternoon, the following amounts of fresh snow fell above approximately 1400 m:

• central and eastern parts of the northern flank of the Alps: 20 to 30 cm, locally more;
• rest of the northern flank of the Alps and northern Grisons: 10 to 20 cm;
• less to the south, with the southern flank of the Alps remaining mostly dry.

Since Friday afternoon, the following amounts of snow have fallen above around 1600 m:

• northern flank of the Alps east of the Reuss: 60 to 100 cm, locally more;
• rest of the northern flank of the Alps excluding the Vaud and Fribourg Alps, Surselva, northern Prättigau: 40 to 60 cm;
• Jura, Vaud and Fribourg Alps, Valais, Bedretto, Upper Valle Maggia, rest of northern Grisons and Lower Engadine: 20 to 40 cm;
• a few centimetres or dry further south.

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, between -7 °C in the north and -3 °C in the south.

Wind

• There were moderate, sometimes strong northerly winds in the evening and during the first half of the night, especially on the Main Alpine Ridge.
• During the day, there was a mostly weak and occasionally moderate northwesterly wind.

Trend until Wednesday, 24.04.2024Tuesday

It will be mostly cloudy and there will still be some precipitation from time to time. It will remain cold, with the snowfall level lying between 700 m in the north and 1000 m in the south. Another 20 to 30 cm of new snow is expected on the central and eastern parts of the northern flank of the Alps. There will be a light to moderate northeasterly wind.

The avalanche danger will not change significantly.

Wednesday

In the north, it will be cloudy with bright spells and some snow will fall at times. It will be quite sunny in the south. It will remain cold. There will be an increasingly strong northwesterly wind on the Main Alpine Ridge. The avalanche danger will fall slightly.