nördliches Urseren

Snowpack

The very large volumes of fresh snow expected in the coming days will in many places fall on an unfavourable old snowpack. Particularly on western, northern and eastern slopes, there are pronounced weak layers in the snowpack where avalanches may start. In the Lower Valais and on the northern Alpine ridge, these weak layers are already somewhat more thickly covered than in other regions, but are still susceptible to triggering. On the southern flank of the Alps, in the Engadine and in central Grisons, the snowpack is mainly still thin, but consequently often completely faceted.

Weather forecast to Sunday

Precipitation from the west will set in overnight to Sunday. During the day, precipitation will be intense and persistent in the windward regions in the west and north. The snowfall level during the night on the northern flank of the Alps and in Valais will still be around 1200 to 1600 m, and lower in other regions. During the day, the level will fall to low altitudes in all regions.

Fresh snow

From Saturday evening to Sunday afternoon above 1600 m:

• western Lower Valais, northern Alpine ridge: 40 to 70 cm
• rest of Valais: 30 to 50 cm
• Jura peaks, remaining northern flank of the Alps, remaining Gotthard region, northern Grisons: 20 to 40 cm
• otherwise 10 to 20 cm, less or dry in the very south

Temperature

Decreasing as the day progresses; at midday at 2000 m between -6 °C in the north and -2 °C in the south.

Wind

Increasingly stormy westerly wind

Weather review for Saturday

On the western part of the northern flank of the Alps it was mostly cloudy, otherwise often sunny.

Fresh snow

-

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, around -5 °C.

Wind

Moderate to strong northerly winds during the night in the south, otherwise weak to moderate winds from the west

OutlookMonday

On Monday, it will continue to snow persistently and very intensely in the north down to low altitudes. The snowfall will be accompanied by stormy northwesterly winds. Lower Valais and the northern Alpine ridge can expect 50 to 70 cm of new snow, possibly more from the Aletsch region to Tödi. In other regions, 30 to 50 cm of fresh snowfall is widely expected, considerably less on the southern flank of the Alps.

Avalanche danger will continue to increase in all regions. A forecast of danger level 4 (high) is widely expected for Monday from Valais across the northern flank of the Alps to northern Grisons. In regions exposed to heavier precipitation, very large naturally triggered avalanches are increasingly expected. Due to the low snowfall level, avalanches can carry along a lot of new snow even at intermediate altitudes and advance into the valleys along usual avalanche paths. Exposed parts of transportation routes will be at risk.  

Tuesday

Overnight to Tuesday, it will continue to snow in the north down to low altitudes. However, the main centre of the precipitation will shift slightly eastwards. Snowfall will subside during the day. New snow volumes on Tuesday are still uncertain. From Wildstrubel to Liechtenstein, 30 to 50 cm of fresh snowfall can be expected, otherwise a widespread 10 to 30 cm. It will be mainly sunny and dry on the southern flanks of the Alps.

The avalanche situation will remain very critical. In regions exposed to heavier precipitation, avalanche danger may increase somewhat overnight to Tuesday, depending on the amount and intensity of precipitation.