Considerable avalanche danger will be encountered over a wide area. Wind slabs are to be avoided
Edition: 7.1.2022, 17:00 / Next update: 8.1.2022, 18:00
Snowpack
The fresh fallen snow of the last few days and the freshly created snowdrift accumulations which often were generated by strong-velocity winds were deposited on top of an old snowpack surface which was strikingly marked by rain, wind and sun, in some places was also iced-over. On the northern flank of the Alps more than anywhere else there is a small amount of loose snow on the surface over widespread areas which can be transported by strong-velocity westerly winds on Friday night.
In particular from the central Valais over the northern Ticino as far as Grisons, very isolated avalanches can be triggered in the old snow at high altitudes. This applies to expansively metamorphosed (faceted) loose-snow layers either immediately beneath the rain crust which formed at the end of December or more deeply embedded inside the snowpack.
Observed weather on Friday, 07.01.2022
Following a clear and cold night, skies were frequently overcast during the daytime. During the afternoon in the western and northern regions there was a small amount of snowfall down to low lying regions.
Fresh snow
in the western and the northern regions, only a few centimetres.
Temperature
Temperatures at midday at 2000 m, -7 °C.
Wind
  • Nocturnal winds were light;
  • during the daytime increasing in velocity, in the afternoon blowing at strong velocity in some places in the eastern sector of the northern flank of the Alps, from westerly directions.
Weather forecast through Saturday, 08.01.2022
A small amount of snowfall is anticipated during the nighttime hours, falling down to low lying areas. During the daytime there will be intermittent sunshine before snowfall will set in once again during the afternoon. In the furthermost southern regions it will be dry and sunny in many places.
Fresh snow
Between Friday afternoon and Saturday afternoon:
  • northern flank of the Alps, Grisons north of Anterior Rhine, Jura region: 5 to 15 cm;
  • in the other regions of Switzerland, less; in the furthermost southern regions i will remain dry.
Temperature
At midday at 2000 m: -9 °C.
Wind
  • Winds during the nocturnal hours will be blowing at moderate to strong velocity, intermittently at storm strength on the northern flank of the Alps and at high altitudes in general, temporarily from westerly directions;
  • during the daytime at high altitudes and in the southern regions, strong-velocity northerly winds; in the other regions of Switzerland moderate strength westerly winds.
Outlook through Monday, 10.01.2022
Sunday
Skies will be heavily overcast, accompanied by snowfall down to low lying areas. In the northern and the western regoins, 20 to 40 cm of fresh snow is anticipated, in the other regions of Switzerland less. In the furthermost southern regions it will be sunny. Winds during the nighttime hours in northern and western regions will be blowing at storm strength, in the other regions frequently at strong velocity.
In the northern and the western regions avalanche danger levels will increase significantly and naturally triggered avalanches are also expected. In the remaining regions of Switzerland avalanche danger is expected to increase somewhat. In the furthermost southern regions, avalanche danger is not expected to change significantly.
Monday
During the night in the northern regions, a small amount of snowfall is anticipated. During the daytime in the western and the southern regions it will be quite sunny, in the eastern regions skies will be overcast but it will remain dry for the most part. At high altitudes and in the southern regions, a strong-velocity northerly wind will be blowing.
In the northern and the western regions, avalanche danger is expected to decrease. In Grisons and the southern regions, danger levels are not expected to change significantly.