At elevated altitudes a considerable avalanche danger will be encountered in some regions
Edition: 18.2.2022, 17:00 / Next update: 19.2.2022, 18:00
Snowpack
As a consequence of rainfall, the snowpack from the Valais over the northern flank of the Alps as far as northern and central Grisons became moistened up to altitudes of approximately 2200 to 2400 m on Thursday. As a result of the drastic drop in temperatures which is forecast, the snowpack will increasingly consolidate.
The deep snowdrift accumulations which were generated in some areas over the last few days are continuing to stabilise further. As a result of fresh snow and winds, however, fresh snowdrift accumulations will be generated particularly in the northern regions and the Lower Valais.
From the southern Valais over the northern Ticino as far as Grisons, there are weak layers deeply embedded inside the old snowpack. Avalanches can be triggered from these deep layers particularly in seldom-frequented terrain on west-facing, north-facing and east-facing slopes. In isolated cases, avalanches can also grow to large size.
Observed weather on Friday, 18.02.2022
During the night the precipitation came to an end in the northern regions and skies cleared up. During the daytime in the western and northern regions skies were predominantly overcast, in Grisons intermittently sunny, and in the southern regions mostly sunny.
Fresh snow
In the northern regions there was a small amount of fresh snow registered above approximately 2000 m during the night
Temperature
At midday at 2000 m, between +7 °C in the western regions and +4 °C in the eastern regions.
Wind
  • Valais, northern flank of the Alps and Grisons: at high altitudes strong-velocity winds were blowing from southwesterly directions;
  • Ticino: winds were blowing predominantly at light to moderate strength, from northerly directions then shifting to southerly.
Weather forecast through Saturday, 19.02.2022
During the nighttime hours in the northern regions, snowfall is expected to set in. The snowfall level will descend from 1600 to 1800 m down to low lying areas during the course of the night. During the daytime it will become increasingly sunny from the west. In the southern regions it will be quite sunny.
Fresh snow
Between Friday afternoon and Saturday afternoon, the following amounts of fresh snow are anticipated above approximately 1500 m:
  • northern flank of the Alps, furthermost western part of Lower Valais: 10 to 25 cm; on the French border as much as 40 cm;
  • remaining parts of Valais, northern Grisons: 5 to 10 cm;
  • in the other regions of Switzerland, only a few centimetres;
  • in the furthermost southern regions it will remain dry.
Temperature
At midday at 2000 m, between -7 °C in the northern regions and -2 °C in the southern regions.
Wind
  • Winds in the northern regions will be blowing from southwesterly directions, then shift to westerly, still blowing at strong velocity during the nocturnal hours, during the daytime at moderate strength;
  • in the southern and southeastern regions, winds will be blowing at light to moderate strength from westerly directions; in the afternoon in Ticino: moderate-strength northerly foehn winds.
Outlook through Monday, 21.02.2022
In the northern regions skies will be heavily overcast on both days. Above approximately 1000 m there will be intermittent snowfall on Sunday, then on Sunday night and during the day on Monday the snowfall will become persistent and heavy. By Monday evening on the northern flank of the Alps and in the Lower Valais, approximately 40 cm of fresh snow will have fallen. Winds will be blowing at strong velocity from westerly to northwesterly directions. The avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly on Sunday, but on Monday danger levels will increase over widespread areas.
On the southern flank of the Alps it will be quite sunny on both days. Avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly.