Luganese

In the west and in the south a considerable avalanche danger will be encountered over a wide area.

As a consequence of northerly wind, avalanche prone wind slabs formed. They are clearly recognisable to the trained eye. The wind slabs are to be avoided in steep terrain. Avalanches can additionally in very isolated cases be released in near-ground layers on shady slopes. In particular here medium-sized avalanches are possible. Backcountry touring calls for careful route selection.

Snowpack Snow depths at elevated altitudes in the furthermost western part of the Lower Valais are average for this juncture of the season, in the remaining regions of Switzerland the snow depths are below average. At 2500 m the snowpack depth in the western part of Lower Valais and in the northwestern part of the Ticino is approximately 80 cm. In the other regions of Switzerland the snow depths range from 40 to 60 cm, in the central Valais and in central Grisons, there is less snow on the ground in some places. Fresh fallen snow and newly generated snowdrifts from the last few days have been deposited on top of an unfavourable old snowpack surface and are prone to triggering. Particularly on shady slopes above approximately 2200 to 2400 m there are weak, expansively metamorphosed (faceted) layers evident more deeply embedded inside the snowpack. These layers in the western regions and on the Main Alpine Ridge from the Matterhorn into the Bernina and southwards therefrom are already blanketed over by so much snow that even large-sized avalanches are possible. Observed weather review Sunday, 11.12.2022 On Saturday night in the northeastern regions there was a small amount of additional snowfall extending down to low lying areas. During the daytime on Sunday it became increasingly sunny in the western and southern regions. In the eastern regions skies were overcast to begin with, accompanied by light local snowfall and bright intervals. During the course of the day it subsequently became partly sunny in those regions as well. Fresh snow Between Saturday evening and until the end of the period of precipitation on Sunday morning on the northern flank of the Alps, in northern Grisons and in the Lower Engadine, 5 to 15 cm of fresh snow was registered down to low lying areas. Thus, since the beginning of this period of precipitation on Thursday until Sunday, the following overall amounts of snowfall were registered above 1000 to 1500 m:

• Vaud Alps, Bernese Oberland west of Lake Thun, furthermost western part of Lower Valais, northern Lower Valais: 30 to 40 cm; on the French border as much as 60 cm;
• Jura region, remaining regions of the western sector of northern flank of the Alps, central sector of northern flank of the Alps, remaining parts of Lower Valais, northern Upper Valais, Sotto Ceneri, Upper Engadine, Val Bregaglia and Val Poschiavo: 15 to 30 cm;
• remaining regions of Switzerland, 5 to 15 cm.

Temperature At midday at 2000 m, between -12 °C in the northern regions and -9 °C in the southern regions. Wind

• winds were blowing at light to moderate strength from northerly directions in the northern regions;
• on the Main Alpine Ridge and southwards therefrom, winds were blowing at moderate to strong velocity from northerly directions, slackening off during the afternoon.

Weather forecast through Monday, 12.12.2022 During Sunday night, cloud cover will move into Swiss regions from the west, reaching the northern and the eastern regions on Monday morning. During the course of the day in the western and the southern regions, it will be quite sunny. In the northern and eastern regions it will become increasingly sunny during the course of the morning. Fresh snow - Temperature It is expected to remain cold, the midday tempertures at 2000 m will lie between -9 °C in the western regions and -11 °C in the eastern regions. Wind Winds will be blowing at light to moderate strength from westerly to northwesterly directions. Outlook through Wednesday, 14.12.2022 On both days, skies will be heavily overcast in the western and in the northern regions. In the southern and eastern regions it will still be partly sunny on Tuesday, in the other regions of Switzerland heavily overcast for the most part. During the course of the day on Tuesday in the western and northern regions, precipitation is expected to set in, to start with as snowfall extending down to low lying areas. Presumably, the precipitation will intensify on Tuesday night and the snowfall level will ascend to 1500 m subsequently. The development and the amounts of precipitation are still uncertain. By Wednesday evening in the furthermost western part of Lower Valais, 30 to 40 cm of fresh snow is anticipated, in the other regions of western Switzerland 15 to 30 cm above 1800 m is possible, less in other regions. Winds are expected to intensify on Tuesday and be blowing at moderate to strong velocity from southwesterly to westerly directions, then on Wednesday intermittently at strong to storm-strength. The avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly on Tuesday. On Tuesday night from region to region in the west and in the north, depending on amounts of precipitation, the avalanche danger levels could increase significantly. As a consequence of rainfall at intermediate altitudes, moist slides and gliding avalanches can be expected.