Considerable avalanche danger will be encountered over a wide area
Edition: 9.1.2022, 17:00 / Next update: 10.1.2022, 18:00
Snowpack
As a consequence of fresh snow and storm-strength winds, large-sized snowdrift accumulations have been generated in the western regions more than anywhere else. Beneath the layers of fresh snow and snowdrift accumulations from last week the old snowpack surface in many regions was hardened and showed striking signs of rain, wind and sun. Particularly in the inneralpine regions of the Valais and Grisons this crust manifests less pronounced effects and is frequently breakable.
From the central Valais over the northern Ticino as far as Grisons more than anywhere else, very isolated avalanches can be triggered in the old snow at high altitudes. This is possible in 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 Sunday, 09.01.2022
In the northern regions skies were predominantly overcast. There was intermittent snowfall. The snowfall level descended from 1200 m down to low lying areas. During the afternoon there was only a minor amount of snowfall and there were isolated bright intervals. In the southern regions it was predominantly dry and partly sunny.
Fresh snow
Between Saturday afternoon and Sunday afternoon:
  • northern Alpine Ridge from the Diablerets into the Aletsch region, western part of Lower Valais: 20 to 40 cm;
  • remaining parts of the northern flank of the Alps, remaining parts of Valais not including the valleys of Visp and the Simplon region, Jura region: 15 to 30 cm;
  • valleys of Visp, Simplon region, Val Bedretto, upper Leventina, northern Grisons: 5 to 15 cm;
  • in the other regions of Switzerland, only a few centimetres; or else it remained dry.
Temperature
At midday at 2000 m, -8 °C in the northern regions and -5 °C in the southern regions.
Wind
  • On Sunday night, and in particular in the western and the northern regions, strong to storm-strength southwesterly winds were blowing;
  • during the morning on the Main Alpine Ridge and in the eastern regions, winds were northwesterly, blowing at strong velocity; in the other regions winds were predominantly moderate.
Weather forecast through Monday, 10.01.2022
During the night in the northern regions, snowfall down to low lying areas is anticipated over widespread areas. In the southern regions it will remain dry. During the daytime on Monday it will be predominantly sunny in the Valais and in the southern regions. In the remaining regions of Switzerland a small amount of snowfall is still expected in the morning, in the afternoon there will be some bright intervals.
Fresh snow
Between Sunday afternoon and Monday afternoon:
  • Lower Valais, northern Upper Valais, northern flank of the Alps: 5 to 15 cm;
  • in the other regions of Switzerland, less; in the Ticino and the Engadine it will remain predominantly dry.
Temperature
At midday at 2000 m, -9 °C in the northern regions and -6 °C in the southern regions.
Wind
Winds will be blowing at light to moderate strength, at strong velocity at high altitudes and in the southern regions, from northerly to northeasterly directions.
Outlook through Wednesday, 12.01.2022
On Tuesday and Wednesday it will be sunny and significantly milder. The midday temperature at 2000 m will ascend in the western and southern regions to approximately 0 °C, in the eastern regions to -4 °C. At high altitudes a moderate-strength northeasterly wind will be blowing; in the Prealps and the Jura region, a moderate strength bise wind is expected.
The danger of dry-snow avalanches will decrease. On sunny slopes, wet-snow slides and gliding avalanches can be expected.