Bedrettotal

In most areas, there is less snow than is usual at this time of year. Only in northern Lower Valais are the snow depths about average. On southern slopes and generally below 2400 m, the snowpack is mostly wet or has frozen solid.

On the Main Alpine Ridge and to the south of it, this week’s fresh snow overlays a thin but weak old snowpack of faceted crystals at altitude.

Particularly in the inneralpine regions of Valais and throughout Grisons, there are sometimes pronounced weak layers of faceted crystals or surface hoar in the snowpack, especially on northern and eastern slopes above approximately 2400 m. However, hardly any avalanches have been triggered in these layers for some days.

Further north, the structure of the snowpack is more favourable.

Despite the strong southerly wind, only small wind slabs will be encountered in some localities, as there is hardly any transportable snow left.

It was quite sunny in the north and in the Engadine, but often cloudy in the south and on the Main Alpine Ridge in Valais.

Fresh snow

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Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, between +3 °C in the north and 0 °C in the south

Wind

Light to moderate from southerly directions

It will be quite sunny in the mountains in the north and in the Engadine. It will be cloudy in the south. A little snow will fall on the Main Alpine Ridge in Valais and in western Ticino. The snowfall level will be around 1500 m.

Fresh snow

From Saturday evening to Sunday afternoon above approximately 1800 m:

• Main Alpine Ridge in Valais, upper Valle Maggia, Val Bedretto: 5 to 10 cm
• Elsewhere, a few centimetres locally and dry to the north of the Main Alpine Ridge

Temperature

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

Wind

• Moderate to strong from the south
• A sometimes strong foehn wind in the alpine valleys of the north

On Monday and Tuesday, it will be partly sunny and mild in the north. The southerly wind will still be moderate on Monday and mostly light on Tuesday. In the south, a little snow will fall above approximately 1300 m until Tuesday morning. On the western part of the Main Alpine Ridge and in western Ticino, 5 to 10 cm of fresh snow is possible.

The avalanche danger may increase slightly in the south with arrival of new snow. There will be little change in other regions.