Waadtländer Voralpen

Snowpack

There is appreciably less snow than usual at this time of year in most regions and snow conditions for ski touring are very poor in many places, especially below 2000 m and generally in the east.

Snowpack structure is variable from region to region:

• On the Main Alpine Ridge in Valais and on the central southern flank of the Alps, last week's fresh snow and snowdrift accumulations are lying on a thin but weak old snowpack of faceted crystals. A few avalanches, some large, have been triggered by human activity over the last few days. Isolated avalanches may still be triggered in the old snowpack in these regions.
• In central Valais, northern Upper Valais and throughout Grisons, weak layers of faceted crystals or surface hoar are present in the snowpack on shady slopes above approximately 2400 m. However, avalanches have only rarely been triggered in these layers. Newer snowdrift accumulations, which tend to be small, are sometimes prone to triggering. On wind-protected shady slopes, the surface of the snowpack is faceted and loose.
• Snowpack structure is more favourable in the westernmost and northern parts of Lower Valais and on the northern flank of the Alps. Small snowdrift accumulations have formed locally. Below 2400 m, the snowpack has mostly frozen solid.

Weather forecast to Wednesday

In the mountains it will be sunny after a clear night.

Fresh snow

-

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, between -9 °C in the east and -4 °C in the west and south

Wind

Moderate from northeast to north

Weather review for Tuesday

In the north, the low stratus cloud advanced down into the Alpine valleys. It was sunny above 1500 to 1800 m and in the south.

Fresh snow

-

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, between -6 °C in the east, -2 °C in the west and +2 °C in the south.

Wind

Often moderate, sometimes strong from the north on the Main Alpine Ridge and to the south of there

Outlook to Friday

Thursday will be sunny in the mountains. On Friday, clouds will gather in the north as the day progresses. It will be sunny in the south. Southwesterly winds will develop on Thursday. These will be moderate to strong in the north and generally at high altitudes on both days. Temperatures will remain cool.

There will be hardly any change in avalanche danger. Despite sometimes strong southwesterly winds, snowdrift accumulations that are small but prone to triggering will form in some localities. South of a line from the Rhône to the Rhine, isolated avalanches may still be triggered in deeper layers of the snowpack.