Zervreila

With fresh snow and gale-force westerly winds at times, Monday saw the formation of snowdrift accumulations prone to triggering. On the northern flank of the Alps and in Valais these are continuing to grow, with some becoming large, while otherwise they are mostly medium-sized. Beneath the fresh and drifted snow, the old snowpack contains coarse-grained weak layers on steep north-facing slopes at high altitudes.

Where there is sunshine, the fresh snow will make moist snow slides likely on Tuesday.

Conditions were very cloudy with repeated precipitation. The snowfall level was initially around 2500 m but fell to 1800 m in the north in the afternoon.

Fresh snow

From Sunday evening to Monday evening above approximately 2800 m:

• northern and extreme west of Lower Valais, Vaud Alps and from Avers to the Bernina region: 20 to 30 cm
• elsewhere a widespread 5 to 15 cm

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, around +3 °C

Wind

• Initially mostly moderate southwesterly
• In the afternoon strong at times from westerly directions

Until Tuesday morning there will be widespread precipitation in the north. The snowfall level will drop from 1800 m to around 1200 m. During the day conditions will be mostly sunny in the south and in Valais. The central and eastern parts of the northern flank of the Alps will see extensive cloud cover until the afternoon, with the possibility of isolated showers.

Fresh snow

From Monday evening to Tuesday midday above approximately 2200 m:

• northern and extreme west of Valais and northern flank of the Alps: 20 to 40 cm
• rest of Valais and northern Grisons: 10 to 20 cm
• less elsewhere; dry in the south

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, between +1 °C in the southwest and -3 °C in the northeast

Wind

• During the night moderate to strong from westerly directions
• During the day at high altitudes and generally in the south, strong to gale-force northwesterly

Wednesday

Overnight to Wednesday there will be cloudy intervals. During the day, it will be very sunny despite patchy cloud. Winds will be light to moderate from westerly directions.

The danger of dry avalanches will decrease. In high Alpine regions, however, caution will still be required. The danger of wet avalanches will increase slightly as the day progresses.

Thursday

There will be clear spells overnight to Thursday. During the day there will be patchy to heavy cloud cover, with some precipitation at times. The snowfall level will be between 1400 m in the north and 1800 m in the south. The wind will mostly be a moderate south-westerly, strong at times in the north.

There will be no significant change in dry avalanche danger. Especially in Valais, there will be a possibility of isolated wet avalanches as the day progresses.