Pays d'Enhaut

Moderate avalanche danger will be encountered over a wide area. Weakly bonded old snow requires caution.

Avalanches can in isolated cases be released in the old snowpack and reach medium size. The avalanche prone locations are difficult to recognise. Above approximately 2800 m these avalanche prone locations are to be found in all aspects. In addition the fresh and older wind slabs are prone to triggering in some cases. They are to be evaluated with care and prudence in steep terrain. Defensive route selection is recommended.

Snowpack Below approximately 2200 m there is extraordinarily little snow on the ground for this juncture of the season, at low altitudes no snow whatsoever. Even above 2200 m the snow depths are below average over widespread areas; only in the Valais do the snow depths correspond to long-term average values. The generally shallow snowpack below 2200 to 2400 m shows pronounced effects of higher temperatures and rainfall and, as a result of melt-freeze crusts, is also riddled with expansively metamorphosed (faceted) layers. At high altitudes the more deeply embedded layers inside the snowpack are frequently faceted and loosely-packed. This applies to west-facing, north-facing and east-facing slopes above 2200 to 2400 m and to south-facing slopes above approximately 2700 m. Freshly generated and also somewhat older snowdrift accumulations tend to be relatively small-sized and are in some places easily triggered, particularly the fresh drifts. Observed weather review Friday, 06.01.2023 It was sunny and mild in the mountains. Fresh snow - Temperature At midday at 2000 m, +6 °C. Wind

• Winds during the nocturnal hours on Thursday were still blowing at moderate strength from northerly directions, particularly on the Main Alpine Ridge;
• during the daytime hours on Friday, winds were light to moderate from the southwest.

Weather forecast through Saturday, 07.01.2023 It will be predominantly sunny in the mountains and, particularly in the northern regions, mild. During the afternoon on the southern flank of the Alps, cloud cover will move in. Fresh snow - Temperature At midday at 2000 m, +5 °C in the northern regions, -1 °C in the southern regions. Wind Winds will be southerly to southwesterly,

• in the western and the northern regions blowing at moderate to strong velocity, in the Alpine valleys of the north foehn winds will prevail;
• in the southern regions, blowing at light to moderate strength.

Outlook through Monday, 09.01.2023 Sunday During the morning in the central and eastern sectors of the northern flank of the Alps, as well as in northern Grisons, foehn-induced bright intervals are still possible. In the other regions of Switzerland skies will be heavily overcast for the most part. In the western and southern regions more than anywhere else, a small amount of precipitation is anticipated. In the western regions the snowfall level will lie generally between 1300 and 1600 m; in the southern regions it will descend to below 1000 m. A moderate to strong westerly to southwesterly wind will be blowing, in the Alpine valleys there will frequently be a strong foehn wind blowing. Avalanche danger levels will increase somewhat over far-reaching areas. Monday The strong-velocity winds will shift from southwesterly to westerly-to-northwesterly directions. On the Main Alpine Ridge and northwards therefrom, skies will be heavily overcast by and large, southwards therefrom it will be partly sunny as a consequence of the northerly winds. The snowfall level is expected to descend in all regions of Switzerland to below 1000 m. Most of the snowfall is anticipated in the western sector of the northern flank of the Alps and in the Lower Valais: up to 30 to 50 cm. Avalanche danger levels are expected to increase, particularly significantly in the regions where snowfall is heaviest.