Waadtländer Voralpen

At elevated altitudes a considerable avalanche danger will be encountered in some regions.

Snowpack

As a consequence of the rainfall from the beginning of this week the snow cover below approximately 2400 m became thoroughly wet over widespread areas. Through the lower temperatures, the old snowpack then stabilised to an increasing degree. As a result of the fresh fallen snow and strong to storm-strength westerly to northwesterly winds, snowdrift accumulations which are prone to triggering were generated on Friday, including distant from ridgelnes. In the western and the northern regions, these snowdrift accumulations are frequently large-sized. In the northern and the eastern regions, they will grow somewhat larger still during Friday night. In the regions south of the Main Alpine Ridge, on the other hand, there was hardly any precipitation registered and the freshly generated snowdrift accumulations are predominantly small-sized.

Weather forecast through Saturday, 18.11.2023

On Friday night the current round of precipitation will come to an end in the northern regions. The snowfall level lies at 1200 m. During the daytime on Saturday, skies will be predominantly overcast in the western regions and during the afternoon a small amount of precipitation is anticipated from place to place. The snowfall level is expected to swiftly ascend during the course of the day and by afternoon lie at 2400 m in the western regions. Further towards the east it will be sunny to begin with but skies will turn increasingly overcast during the course of the day. In the southern regions it will be quite sunny accompanied by cloudbanks.

Fresh snow

Between Friday evening and Saturday afternoon, the following amounts of fresh snow are anticipated above approximately 1400 m:

• northern flank of the Alps east of the Blüemlisalp, northern Surselva, northern Grisons, Silvretta: 10 to 15 cm;
• in the remaining regions of Switzerland only a few centimetres, in the southern regions it will remain dry.

Temperature

Temperatures will rise. At midday at 2000 m, between +4 °C in the western regions and -2 °C in the eastern regions.

Wind

• Winds at high altitudes will be blowing predominantly at moderate to strong velocity from northwesterly directions.

Observed weather review Friday, 17.11.2023

Skies were overcast and there was precipitation registered over widespread areas which was persistent on the northern flank of the Alps and in northern Grisons. Only in central Ticino and southern Ticino did it remain dry. Due to the northerly winds it was also quite sunny. The snowfall level descended during the nocturnal hours on Thursday, during the daytime it lay at 1000 to 1200 m.

Fresh snow

Between Thursday evening and Friday afternoon the following amounts of fresh snow were registered above approximately 1800 m:

• eastern sector of the northern flank of the Alps, northern Grisons, Silvretta: 20 to 40 cm, as much as 50 cm in some places of the eastern sector of the northern flank of the Alps;
• northern Lower Valais, remaining parts of the northern flank of the Alps, Gotthard region, northern part of Lower Engadine: 15 to 30 cm;
• in the other regions of Switzerland, only a few centimetres; in the furthermost southern regions it remained dry.

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, -4 °C.

Wind

• On Thursday night winds on the northern flank of the Alps and in the high alpine regions were blowing at strong to storm strength from westerly to southwesterly directions;
• in the other regions of Switzerland winds were blowing at moderate to strong velocity from westerly directions, during the daytime hours from northerly to northwesterly directions.

Outlook through Monday, 20.11.2023Sunday

In the inneralpine regions skies will still be bright to start with, in the other regions of Switzerland skies will be overcast and some precipitation is expected. The snowfall level will lie initially at 2200 to 2500 m, subsequently it will descend to approximately 1800 m during the afternoon hours. The northwesterly winds will be blowing at moderate to strong velocity at high altitudes in general and in the southern regions. In the southern regions it will be partly sunny. Avalanche danger levels are expected to incrementally decrease. As a consequence of solar radiation, but also due to rainfall, moist loose-snow avalanches can trigger from the fresh snow, and gliding avalanches are also possible.

Monday

In the northern regions skies will be variably cloudy accompanied by bright intervals and light showers, particularly during the afternoon. The snowfall level will lie at 1200 m. At heightened altitudes a strong westerly to northwesterly wind will be blowing. In the southern regions it will be partly sunny. Avalanche danger is expected to decrease further.