Martigny-Verbier

Snowpack

The fresh and drifted snow of recent days is prone to triggering, and is present in particularly large quantities in the south and parts of central Grisons. Snow will continue to fall on Saturday, mainly in the south. Fresh and drifted snow is lying on an unfavourable old snow surface of soft, faceted layers, especially on north-facing slopes.

In Valais, Ticino and Grisons, deeper layers of the snowpack are also loose and faceted, especially on steep north-facing slopes. In these regions, isolated avalanches can still be triggered in deeper layers of the snowpack.

Weather forecast to Saturday

Conditions will be mostly very cloudy with precipitation, especially in the south. In the north there will be intermittent light precipitation, with occasional bright spells. The snowfall level will be between 800 and 1000 m in the north and between 1400 and 1600 m in the south.

Fresh snow

From Friday afternoon to Saturday afternoon, the following amounts of fresh snow are expected above approximately 1600 m:

• central part of the southern flank of the Alps:15 to 25 cm
• western Jura, rest of the Main Alpine Ridge from Saas via the Gotthard region to the Bernina region, Engadine, Val Poschiavo, Val Müstair: 5 to 15 cm
• elsewhere a few centimetres

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, between -4 °C in the north and -2 °C in the south.

Wind

• Moderate overnight to Saturday at high altitudes, otherwise light to moderate from southerly directions
• In the Jura and the Prealps moderate to strong Bise wind overnight, easing as the day progresses

Weather review for Friday

Conditions were mostly very cloudy. Overnight to Friday, heavy precipitation fell in some regions in the south and east, but eased off during the day. The snowfall level was 700 to 1000 m in the north and 1300 to 1500 m in the south.

Fresh snow

From Thursday afternoon to Friday afternoon, the following amounts fell above approximately 1600 m:

• central and north-eastern Ticino, Moesano, Main Alpine Ridge from the Lukmanier Pass to the Rheinwald, Obersaxen-Safien valley region: 30 to 50 cm
• other regions on the southern flank of the Alps, rest of the Upper Engadine, central and eastern parts of the northern flank of the Alps: 15 to 30 cm, less elsewhere

In total, from Sunday afternoon to Friday afternoon the following amounts fell above around 2000 m:

• central part of the southern flank of the Alps, Main Alpine Ridge from the Lukmanier Pass to the Bernina region and south of there: 60 to 80 cm
• Simplon region, southern Goms, rest of the Main Alpine Ridge from the Furka Pass to the Lukmanier Pass, Obersaxen-Safien valley region, rest of Upper Engadine: 40 to 60 cm
• extreme west of Lower Valais, northern flank of the Alps east of the Reuss, the rest of central Grisons and the Flims and Calanda regions, Liechtenstein: 20 to 40 cm
• less elsewhere

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, -4 °C in the north and -2 °C in the south

Wind

• Light to moderate from southerly directions
• In the Jura and the Prealps, light to moderate Bise winds over the course of the day

OutlookSunday

Conditions will be very cloudy with continuing intermittent precipitation. The snowfall level will be around 1200 m in the south and 800 m in the north. Valais and Grisons will see some sunny intervals and conditions will become increasingly brighter in the south as the day progresses. There will be light to moderate easterly winds.

The danger of dry avalanches will decrease in the south, otherwise it will not change significantly. Moderate loose snow avalanches are expected in the sunshine, especially in regions with a lot of fresh snow.

Monday

Conditions will be fairly sunny in Valais and the south, and increasingly sunny on the northern flank of the Alps and in northern and central Grisons. Temperatures will not change significantly. There will be moderate northeasterly winds at higher altitudes, while the Jura and the Prealps will see moderate to strong Bise winds over the course of the day.

The danger of dry avalanches will decrease, but only slowly on north-facing slopes. With plenty of sunshine, wet loose snow avalanches can be expected in regions with fresh snow.