Fresh snow and strong winds from the west to northwest are giving rise to extensive snow drift accumulations in the regions
exposed to heavier precipitation. Large amounts of the fresh snow are being transported in the other regions as well. On west,
north and east facing slopes sheltered from the wind, the large quantities of fresh snow are lying on an unfavourable faceted
old snow surface.
In the Jura, on the northern flank of the Alps and in western Lower Valais, sometimes thick rain crusts dating from the final
week of the old year exist deeper in the snowpack up to high altitudes. In these regions the thick crusts are stabilising
the base of the snowpack, so that avalanches are unlikely to release the deep layers.
From southern Valais through northern Ticino to Grisons, in contrast, in many cases the entire snowpack is faceted and interspersed
only with thin melt-freeze crusts. In these regions in particular, avalanches can release the entire snowpack.