Saint-Cergue

Snowpack

The avalanche situation is easing as a consequence of falling temperatures and the heavy precipitation subsiding. At high altitudes, there is about twice as much snow in many areas as there normally is at the beginning of December. The snowpack structure there is generally favourable. In southern Upper Valais, Ticino, Moesano, Val Bregaglia and Val Poschiavo, there are average snow depths at altitude. In these regions, older weak layers may occasionally be released by people.

At intermediate altitudes, the rain has moistened or soaked the snowpack. The snowpack is increasingly stabilising as a consequence of falling temperatures, but gliding avalanches are still to be expected on slippery ground below 2000 m.

Weather forecast until Friday, 15.12.2023

The snowfall will end at first in the west during the night, and in the morning also in the east. During the day, it will be mostly sunny in the west and south, but still very cloudy in the northeast.

New fallen snow

From Thursday afternoon to Friday morning above approximately 1500 m, the following amounts of snow will fall:

• central and eastern parts of the northern flank of the Alps and northern Grisons: 15 to 30 cm;
• rest of the northern flank of the Alps, central Grisons and Engadine: 5 to 15 cm; otherwise mostly dry.

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, between -5 °C in the north and -3 °C in the south.

Wind

• Moderate northerly winds will blow at altitude in the west, and strong northerly winds in the east.
• In the south, there will be strong northerly winds down to the valleys.

Weather review for Thursday, 14.12.2023

In the north, it was partly cloudy and snow fell at times down to low altitudes. It was fairly sunny in the south.

New fallen snow

From Wednesday afternoon to Thursday afternoon, the following amounts of snow fell above approximately 1500 m:

• north of the Rhone-Rhine: 20 to 40 cm;
• south of the Rhone-Rhine: 10 to 20 cm; in southern Upper Valais and on the southern flank of the Alps, less or dry.

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, between -4 °C in the north and -1 °C in the south.

Wind

Winds were mostly moderate from the west.

Trend until Sunday, 17.12.2023

Saturday and Sunday

It will be sunny and mild. The zero-degree level will rise in many areas to over 3000 m on Sunday. The danger of dry avalanches is expected to decrease. As a result of the mild temperatures and solar radiation, an increase in gliding avalanche activity is expected. Wet avalanches are also possible, especially on steep sunny slopes.