Ybrig

As a consequence of new snow and wind a considerable avalanche danger will be encountered in some regions.

Snowpack

At the end of October there was a generally thin snowpack over widespread areas in the high alpine regions, atop the glaciers, as well as in north-facing gullies above approximately 2800 m. Since then there has been snowfall registered in all regions of Switzerland extending down to below the timberline, heavy snowfall in the western regions. Across most of the flat-surfaced fields where automated measurements are registered at 2500 m in the Lower Valais, in the northern part of Upper Valais and in the southern Engadine, there is 50 to 100 cm of snow on the ground. In these regions the snowpack is cohesive and area-wide. In the remaining regions of Switzerland at 2500 m there is 30 to 50 cm of snow on the ground over widespread areas, less in some places in the central and eastern sectors of the northern flank of the Alps.

Weather forecast through Friday, 10.11.2023

Skies are expected to be heavily overcast accompanied by precipitation. The snowfall level in the northern regions will lie at 1500 m to begin with, in the other regions of Switzerland at 1200 m. In the furthermost southern regions it is expected to turn increasingly sunny during the course of the day.

Fresh snow

Between Thursday afternoon and Friday afternoon, the following amounts of fresh snow are anticipated above approximately 1800 m:

• Vaud Alps, northern and furthermost western parts of the Lower Valais: 20 to 30 cm, as much as 40 cm along the French border;
• remaining sectors of the northern flank of the Alps, remaining parts of southern Lower Valais, northern part of Upper Valais: 10 to 20 cm;
• in the remaining regions of Switzerland, 5 to 10 cm over widespread areas.

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, in the northern regions -4 °C, in the southern regions -2 °C.

Wind

Winds will be blowing at moderate to, in some places, strong velocity from southwesterly directions, subsequently shifting to westerly.

Observed weather review Thursday, 09.11.2023

Skies were for the most part overcast and in the western regions snowfall set in during the course of the day. The snowfall level ascended to 1200 m.

Fresh snow

By Thursday afternoon, the following amounts of fresh snow were registered:

• furthermost western part of the Lower Valais: 5 to 15 cm;
• in the remaining regions of Switzerland, less; or else it remained dry.

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, between +1 °C in the northeastern regions and -2 °C in the southern regions.

Wind

• Winds were blowing at moderate to strong velocity from southwesterly directions;
• in the valleys of the north, foehn wind prevailed.

Outlook through Sunday, 12.11.2023Saturday

In the northern and the western regions, 15 to 30 cm of snowfall is anticipated. Please note: the snowfall level will descend down to about 900 m. A strong-velocity westerly wind will be blowing at high altitudes. In the furthermost southern regions it will be partly sunny as a consequence of strong-velocity northwesterly winds in some places. Avalanche danger levels are expected to increase in the western and northern regions. In the other regions of Switzerland, avalanche danger is not expected to change significantly.

Sunday

Except for in the furthermost southern regions, skies will be overcast throughout Switzerland. The forecasts for precipitation are still quite uncertain. The most probable scenario is to expect heavy precipitation in the western and the northern regions. In the western regions the snowfall level is expected to ascend during the course of the day to approximately 1800 m. Following an interim of no precipitation during the night, strong westerly winds are expected to arise again during the course of the following day. Depending on the amounts of fresh fallen snow, avalanche danger levels in the western and the northern regions can increase to a significant degree. In the furthermost western part of the Lower Valais, an increase of avalanche danger to level 4 (high) cannot be excluded.