Ajoie

Snowpack

The new snow that fell at the end of the week fell on bare ground at low and intermediate altitudes. At high altitude, little snow already lay on shady slopes, with terrain roughness mostly not yet levelled out. Only above 2800 metres and generally in the high Alpine regions the new snow fell onto an old snowpack that was continuous over larger areas, especially on northern slopes. The near-surface layers of that old snowcover had an angular structure and it can be assumed that some of these layers are still prone to triggering. Instabilities within the new snow and wind slabs, on the other hand, generally stabilise rapidly.

Strong and at times stormy winds from northerly, westerly and southerly directions transported the snow significantly, so that areas adjacent to ridgelines and pass areas were often blown free of snow. Instead, the snow lies in gullies and bowls or behind terrain edges or generally in wind-sheltered places.

With southwesterly winds, fresh wind slabs will form on Sunday. In addition, the snow will become moist with warmth and solar radiation, especially on steep sunny slopes up to high altitudes.

Weather forecast until Sunday, 24.11.2024

It will be mostly sunny and very mild in the north.

Fresh snow

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Temperature

Temperatures will rise. At midday at 2000 m, between +8 °C in the north and -2 °C in the south.

Wind

There will be southwesterly winds

• Temporarily strong during the night in the Jura, otherwise generally moderate at high altitudes
• There will be a foehn wind in the Alpine valleys of the north.

Weather review for Saturday, 23.11.2024

During Friday night, the snowfall in the east also ended and it cleared up in many areas. In the late morning it was mostly sunny, in the afternoon mostly cloudy.

Fresh snow

During Friday night, it snowed to low altitudes:

• Northern Alpine Ridge and from northern Prättigau to Samnaun: 5 to 15 cm;
• Elsewhere: less, or it remained dry.

Temperature

Rising, at midday at 2000 m between 0 °C in Valais, -3 °C in the western and central parts of the northern flank of the Alps and -6 °C in Grisons and on the southern flank of the Alps

Wind

Moderate to strong at high altitudes

• From west to northwest during the night
• From the southwest during the day

OutlookMonday

In the north, it will be mostly sunny in the late morning, becoming increasingly cloudy from the west in the afternoon. In the Jura and in the mountains, strong southwesterly winds will blow, especially at high altitudes. There will be a foehn wind in the Alpine valleys. It will remain very mild. There will be little sunshine in the south. At altitude, the wind will blow moderately from the southwest. The avalanche danger will continue to decrease slowly.

Tuesday

During the night to Tuesday, little precipitation will fall over a wide area. The snowfall level will drop rapidly from 2200 m to around 1500 m in the north and in the south it will be at 1800 m. During the day it will be partly sunny with light to moderate southwesterly winds. The danger of dry avalanches may increase slightly in some regions. The danger of wet avalanches will decrease appreciably.