Waadtländer Voralpen

Snowpack

Apart from main areas of precipitation in the south-east, the large amount of fresh snow will be accompanied by relatively little wind. On very steep north-facing slopes in the high Alpine regions, it will be deposited on a dry snowpack surface, elsewhere on a moist snowpack surface.

With the warmth of the last few days, the snowpack has become water-saturated on southern slopes up to the high Alpine regions, on eastern and western slopes up to a good 3000 m, and on northern slopes up to a maximum of 2800 m. At these altitudes, this was the first time the old weak layers had become moist, resulting in temporary weakening. Despite the falling temperatures, avalanches may start in the wet snow due to the weight of the fresh snow. In addition, avalanches which have started in the fresh snow may take the water-saturated old snowpack with them.

Weather forecast to Monday

Conditions will be very cloudy with widespread and sometimes heavy precipitation. The snowfall level will drop from 2200 to 1600 m in the north, locally lower where precipitation is heavy. In the south, it will drop from 2600 to 2200 m.

Fresh snow

The exact amounts of precipitation are still uncertain. From Sunday afternoon to Monday afternoon, roughly the following amounts will fall at higher altitudes:

• Ticino, Moesano and Val Bregaglia: 50 to 80 cm
• central and eastern part of the northern flank of the Alps, other regions of Grisons: 30 to 50 cm
• elsewhere: 15 to 30 cm

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m between 0 °C in the north and +3 °C in the south, thus not as warm as over the last few days

Wind

• Light to moderate southerly in the south and in Grisons, occasionally strong in the high Alpine regions of the eastern part of the main Alpine ridge
• Elsewhere light to moderate northeasterly

Weather review for Sunday

Conditions were changeable with lots of cloud and showers but also bright intervals. The snowfall level was around 2700 m.

Fresh snow

From the start of the precipitation on Saturday morning until Sunday afternoon, the following amounts fell in the high Alpine regions:

• northern Alpine ridge from the Chablais to the Wildstrubel: 20 to 40 cm
• elsewhere a widespread 10 to 20 cm, less in Grisons and the south

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, around +6 °C in the north and +8 °C in the south

Wind

Southwesterly, sometimes strong during the night on the northern flank of the Alps, otherwise light to moderate

Outlook

Tuesday and Wednesday will be very cloudy. Valais will see a few bright intervals on Tuesday. There will be intermittent precipitation, heaviest in the south with a total of 15 to 30 cm. The snowfall level will be between 1700 m in the north and 2100 m in the south. The wind will mostly be a light southerly, rising to moderate in the high Alpine regions on Wednesday.

The risk of dry avalanches will slowly decrease. In the main areas of precipitation, gliding avalanches are to be expected on previously snowless slopes. Elsewhere the cooler weather will mean that only isolated wet avalanches are likely.