Pays d'Enhaut

Moderate avalanche danger will be encountered over a wide area.

As a consequence of a moderate to strong northeasterly wind, mostly small wind slabs formed. The wind slabs of the last few days are in some cases prone to triggering. They are to be evaluated with care and prudence in particular in very steep terrain. Additionally in isolated cases avalanches can also be triggered in deep layers and reach medium size. These avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack. Backcountry touring and other off-piste activities call for careful route selection.

Snowpack The snow depths, which are measured in flat fields in western regions, lie slightly below average amounts for this juncture of the season; in the other regions the snow depths are significantly below average. Only in the furthermost western part of the Lower Valais and in the Fribourg Alps do the snow depths lie at average levels for this juncture of the season. The snow cover layering in the furthermost western parts of the Lower Valais are most favourable. On the northern flank of the Alps the lowermost sector of the snow cover is frequently well consolidated; on top of that layer, however, lie several expansively metamorphosed (faceted) layers deeply embedded inside the snowpack. In the remaining regions of Switzerland, between the embedded and consolidated layers and crusts, lie a great number of softened, expansively metamorphosed (faceted) layers of snow. This last type of snow layer is especially pronounced in zones where the snow is shallow, and where one breaks through to the ground on skis. Also the surface-near layers are increasingly expansively metamorphosed and loosely-packed on wind-protected slopes. Moreover, in ridgeline and pass areas and in general at high altitudes the surface hoar is heavily impacted by winds over widespread areas. As a consequence of strong-velocity northeasterly winds, predominantly small-sized snowdrift accumulations were generated on Friday. Observed weather review Friday, 27.01.2023 It was quite sunny in the mountains above the banks of high fog. In the northern regions, the fogbank ceiling lay at 1700 to 2100 m. There was a small amount of snowfall out of the fogbanks from place to place. Also in the southern regions of Ticino, skies were overcast with high-fogbank like cloudiness. Fresh snow - Temperature At midday at 2000 m, -8 °C in the northern regions and -5 °C in the southern regions. Wind

• Winds in the heights of the Jura region, on the northern flank of the Alps and in the central and eastern sectors of the Main Alpine Ridge were blowing at moderate to strong velocity from easterly to northeasterly directions;
• winds were blowing at light to moderate strength from northeasterly directions in the remaining regions of Switzerland.

Weather forecast through Saturday, 28.01.2023 It will be predominantly sunny in the southern regions and in the mountain ranges. The ceiling of the high-fogbanks will lie at 1600 to 2000 m in the northern and the eastern regions, and at 1400 m in the Valais. A small amount of snowfall is possible out of the fog from place to place. Fresh snow - Temperature At midday at 2000 m, -6 °C in the western and the southern regions and 0 °C in the eastern regions. Wind

• In the heights of the Jura region, on the northern flank of the Alps, as well as in the central and eastern sectors of the Main Alpine Ridge, moderate to strong-velocity winds will be blowing from easterly to northeasterly directions;
• in the remaining regions of Switzerland, light to moderate-strength winds will be blowing from northeasterly directions.

Outlook through Monday, 30.01.2023 Sunday In the southern regions and in the mountain ranges, it is expected to be predominantly sunny. The ceiling of the high-fogbanks will lie at 1200 to 1500 m in the northern regions. The northeasterly winds are expected to slacken off and be blowing at light to moderate strength. Temperatures will increase somewhat. Avalanche danger levels will continue to incrementally decrease. Monday Skies will be increasingly overcast in the northern and the eastern regions during the morning hours following a night of clear skies; and during the afternoon light snowfall is expected to set in from the northwest which will extend down to low lying areas. In the inneralpine regions it will be sunny to start with, subsequently skies will become increasingly overcast during the afternoon. In the southern regions it will be predominantly sunny. The winds will be blowing at moderate to strong velocity from westerly to northwesterly directions, at strong to storm strength in some places on the Main Alpine Ridge, from northerly directions. Avalanche danger levels are expected to increase during the course of the day.