Waadtländer Voralpen

In the west a high avalanche danger will be encountered in some regions.

The fresh snow and in particular the often large wind slabs are prone to triggering. Single winter sport participants can release avalanches. In addition as the day progresses individual natural avalanches are possible. Avalanches can in isolated cases penetrate near-ground layers of the snowpack reach large size. This applies in particular on north facing slopes above approximately 2400 m, as well as on south facing slopes above approximately 2800 m. Experience in the assessment of avalanche danger is required.

Snowpack The often strong wind has transported last weekend’s fresh snow. In particular in the eastern part of the northern flank of the Alps and in Grisons, in some localities it has transported old snow as well. Some of the snow drift accumulations have become large, in the west in particular. With fresh snow and wind on Tuesday, they will continue to increase in size. Faceted and loosely bonded weak layers are to be found in deep layers of the snowpack on north facing slopes above 2200 m to 2400 m and on south facing slopes approximately 2800 m. These are prone to triggering in particular in southern Valais and in Grisons. Observed weather review Monday, 16.01.2023 On Sunday evening the snowfall ceased in the southeast. On Sunday night the skies were partly clear at times and it was dry for a time. On Monday morning it became increasingly cloudy from the west, and snowfall commenced. In the east there were some bright spells in the morning, otherwise it was mostly cloudy with a little snowfall in some localities. The snowfall level was approximately 600 m. Fresh snow From Sunday evening until Monday afternoon above approximately 1000 m:

• Extreme west of Lower Valais, northern Lower Valais: 15 to 30 cm
• Western Jura, Vaud and Fribourg Alps, western Bernese Oberland, northern Upper Valais: 10 to 20 cm
• Eastern Jura, rest of Valais, southern flank of the Alps, Bernina region: 5 to 10 cm
• Elsewhere: smaller amounts or none

Temperature At midday at 2000 m: between -4 °C in the northwest and -7 °C in the southeast Wind

• On Sunday night: in the north, moderate to strong from the west to northwest, and in the south, light to moderate from the northwest
• During the day: in the north, strong from the south to southwest; In the northern upper valleys exposed to the foehn, a moderate to strong foehn; in the Jura sometimes storm force, and in the south light to moderate, from the south

Weather forecast through Tuesday, 17.01.2023 On Monday evening there will be a little further snowfall over a wide area before it eases temporarily during the night. During the day it will be mostly very cloudy, and in the west and south in particular a little snow will fall, even at low altitudes. In the far east isolated bright spells are possible. Fresh snow From Monday afternoon until Tuesday afternoon the following amounts of snow will fall above 1000 m:

• Extreme west of Lower Valais, northern Lower Valais, western Jura: 15 to 25 cm
• Rest of Valais, Vaud and Fribourg Alps, western Bernese Oberland, eastern Jura: 10 to 15 cm
• Rest of the Gotthard region, southern flank of the Alps, Bernina region: 5 to 10 cm, smaller amounts elsewhere

Temperature At 2000 m: about -6 °C in the north and -8 °C in the south Wind

• On Monday night: moderate to strong from the west to southwest
• During the day: moderate to strong from the south to southwest; in the northern valleys, foehn; in the south, light to moderate from the south

Outlook through Thursday, 19.01.2023 Wednesday The north will be very cloudy and a little further snow will fall; the heaviest snowfall, 10 to 20 cm, will occur in western Lower Valais and on the northern flank of the Alps. The south will be partly sunny. It will remain cold, and snow will fall even at low altitudes. The wind will ease a little and at elevated altitudes will be moderate from the west to northwest. The danger of natural avalanches will decrease in the west, otherwise the avalanche danger will not change significantly. Thursday On Wednesday night a little further snow will fall in the north over a wide area, even at low altitudes. It will be mostly sunny in Valais during the day and partly sunny in the north and east as the day progresses. At elevated altitudes there will be a moderate northeasterly wind and it will be a little colder. The south will remain dry and, with a strengthening northerly wind, it will be fairly sunny. The avalanche danger will decrease slowly.