Val de Travers

Considerable avalanche danger will persist in some regions. Wind slabs require caution.

Snowpack

The moderate to strong southwesterly wind transported the loose snow on Monday. Snowdrift accumulations formed, especially on the northern flank of the Alps, in the Jura and generally at high altitudes. Some of these are still prone to triggering. Snow layering is mostly favourable north of the Rhône-Rhine line. Especially in the inneralpine regions of Valais and Grisons and on the southern flank of the Alps, weak layers deep in the old snowpack may still be released in some places. Below around 2000 m, layers of the snowpack that are near the ground are sometimes moist. This means that gliding avalanches are still to be expected. In many areas, there is about twice as much snow as there normally is at the beginning of December. Only on the southern flank of the Alps are snow depths below average.

Weather forecast through Wednesday, 06.12.2023

It will be very cloudy in the north. Some precipitation will fall at times. The snowfall level will be at low altitudes. In the south it will be sunny with northerly winds.

Fresh snow

The following amounts of fresh snow are anticipated above 1000 m:

• northern flank of the Alps, Jura: 5 to 15 cm;
• elsewhere, a few centimetres or it will remain dry.

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, between -7 °C in the north and -5 °C in the south.

Wind

• In the Jura, the Prealps and at high altitudes, winds will be moderate, with some strong wind during the night from the west.
• In the south, winds will blow moderately from the north.

Observed weather review Tuesday, 05.12.2023

Some precipitation fell during the night, especially in the west. During the day it was sunny at times, especially in the east. Otherwise it was mostly cloudy, with some precipitation at times in the west. The snowfall level was temporarily at 1000 m and then dropped again to low altitudes.

Fresh snow

Between Monday midday and Tuesday midday, the following amounts of fresh snow were registered above 1200 m:

• western and northern Lower Valais, western Jura: 20 to 30 cm;
• Vaud Alps and Fribourg Alps: 5 to 15 cm;
• elsewhere, a few centimetres or it remained dry.

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, -5 °C.

Wind

• During the night in the Jura and on the northern flank of the Alps, there were widespread moderate to strong winds from the southwest. Otherwise, winds were weak to moderate.
• During the day, winds were moderate in the Jura and the Prealps, otherwise mostly weak.

Outlook through Friday, 08.12.2023Thursday

It will be mostly sunny with light winds. The zero-degree level will rise to 2000 m in the east and 2400 m in the west. The danger of dry avalanches will continue to slowly decrease. With the rise in temperature, more gliding avalanches are expected in the north.

Friday

Friday will be very cloudy. There will be precipitation at times, primarily in the west. The snowfall level will rise up to around 1400 m. The danger of dry avalanches may increase slightly in some regions. Gliding avalanches will still be possible.