The immense amounts of fresh fallen snow which have been deposited in the western and the northern regions since Wednesday were transported by strong to storm-velocity westerly winds, then by northerly winds on Saturday. Wide-ranging snowdrift accumulations were generated, including distant from ridgelines. At high altitudes the fresh snow and freshly generated snowdrifts tend to increase significantly with ascending altitude. Particularly on north-facing slopes, the fresh snow and snowdrifts were deposited atop a loosely-packed old snowpack surface in some places. The old snowpack surface in other aspects was more favourable. Beneath the cold fresh snow which fell on Saturday there is moist snow (below approximately 2000 m, due to rainfall, wet snow) as far up as 2500 m.
In the inneralpine regions of Grisons and also in parts of the Valais, the snowpack structuring on north-facing slopes continues to be weak. Fractures reaching down to more deeply embedded layers are possible.

In the northern regions skies were heavily overcast, accompanied by bright intervals in the Valais and in Grisons. On the southern flank of the Alps it was predominantly sunny.

The snowfall level descended during the course of Friday night from approximately 2000 m down to nearly 600 m. Above 2000 m, the following amounts of fresh snow were registered:

• northern and furthermost western parts of Lower Valais: 30 to 50 cm;
• directly bordering zones and into the Aletsch region, plus in the remaining parts of the Lower Valais: mostly 20 to 30 cm;
• on the northern flank of the Alps and in the remaining northern parts of the Upper Valais: 10 to 20 cm;
• in the southern valleys of Visp, in the Gotthard region, in the Surselva, in the Prättigau and in the Bernina region: 5 to 10 cm;
• in the remaining regions of Switzerland, less.

Since the beginning of this period of precipitation on Wednesday afternoon, the following amounts of snow have been registered above approximately 2200 m:

• in the furthermost western part of Lower Valais from Val Ferret into the Trient region and further in northern Valais as far as the Wildstrubel: 60 to 80 cm; more than 100 cm from region to region;
  
• on the northern flank of the Alps, in the remaining parts of the Lower Valais and northern Valais: 40 to 60 cm;
• from the lower valleys of Visp over Goms into Bedretto: 20 to 40 cm;
• southern valleys of Visp, upper Maggia valleys, remaining parts of Gotthard region, from northern Grisons into Samnaun, Bernina region: 10 to 20 cm;
• in the remaining regions of Switzerland, less; or else it remained dry.

At midday at 2000 m, between -7 °C in the northern regions and -3 °C in the southern regions.

• Winds during the nocturnal hours were blowing predominantly at strong to storm strength from westerly directions;
• during the daytime hours shifting to northerly and slackening off noticeably in the northern and the western regions.

On Saturday night, snow showers are anticipated, particularly in the central and eastern sectors of the northern flank of the Alps and in northern Grisons. Skies are expected to brighten from the west. In the southern regions, nighttime skies will be clear. During the daytime on Sunday, skies will brighten also in the eastern regions and it will turn predominantly sunny, as already was the case in the other regions.

Snowfall is anticipated down to low lying areas, bringing the following amounts:

• central and eastern sectors of the northern flank of the Alps, northern Grisons: 10 to 15 cm;
• in the other regions of Switzerland, less; on the southern flank of the Alps it is expected to remain dry.

Temperatures will rise in general. At midday at 2000 m, between -3 °C in the western and the southern regions and 7 °C in the eastern regions.

• Winds during Saturday night will be blowing at strong velocity from northerly directions, particularly in the eastern regions at high altitudes;
• blowing frequently at moderate strength from westerly to northwesterly directions during the daytime hours at high altitudes.