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On Thursday a low will move from Brittany towards the Alpine region.
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Up to 30 centimeters of new snow is expected in the lowlands in the coming days.
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There can be up to half a meter of fresh snow in the mountains.
Heavy snowfall is expected across Switzerland on Thursday afternoon and evening and on Friday night. With moderate to even high snowfall intensities, particularly in the evening hours, ten to 25 centimeters of fresh snow is likely to fall in widespread areas and up to 30 centimeters in some areas by Friday morning.
In the transition area between rain and snow, ice grains or possibly locally freezing rain may also occur at times. The Federal Weather Service writes this in its weather blog.
According to Meteoschweiz, there could be a lot of fresh snow, especially in the central and eastern Mittelland as well as in northwestern Switzerland – depending on how the clouds clear. The meteorologists have created three scenarios.
Scenario 1: Lots of snow in northern and eastern Switzerland
“At the moment, the most plausible model variant looks like it is snowing continuously into the lowlands northeast of the cantons of Aargau-Solothurn,” writes Meteoschweiz in the weather blog.
One scenario could bring a lot of snow to the north and east. According to the calculation, around 20 to 30 centimeters of fresh snow could fall in northern Switzerland.
In eastern Switzerland, new snow amounts of between 30 and 40 centimeters would be possible by Friday afternoon. “Towards Schaffhausen and the Lake Constance region, the quantities are likely to decrease again,” says Meteoschweiz.
Scenario for northern and eastern Switzerland, until Friday at twelve o’clock. (Dark green 20-30 centimeters, green 30-40 centimeters, light green 40-50 centimeters of fresh snow, yellow more than 50 centimeters.)
Meteoschweiz
Scenario 2: Lots of snow in the western midlands
However, the snow clouds could also become increasingly empty in the west: then the western midland would receive a lot of fresh snow. We’re talking about ten to 25, in some places even up to 30 centimeters. According to calculations, up to 30 centimeters of fresh snow is possible in the Jura and in the region around Lake Neuchâtel.
According to the forecast for the western Mittelland, up to half a meter of fresh snow could fall in Valais and the Bernese Alps.
Scenario for northwestern Switzerland, until Friday at twelve o’clock. (Dark green 20-30 centimeters, green 30-40 centimeters, light green 40-50 centimeters of fresh snow, yellow more than 50 centimeters.)
Meteoschweiz
Medium scenario: Up to 30 centimeters in lowlands
The middle scenario (median) assumes that everyone gets a little snow. “We are currently assuming that ten to 25, and in some areas even up to 30 centimeters of fresh snow will fall, especially in the central and eastern Mittelland as well as in northwestern Switzerland, even at the lowest altitudes. At altitudes above around 800 meters, up to 40 cm is possible.”
The median, until Friday, twelve o’clock. (Dark green 20-30 centimeters, green 30-40 centimeters, light green 40-50 centimeters of fresh snow, yellow more than 50 centimeters.)
Meteoschweiz
The avalanche danger is likely to be set to at least level 3 on Friday.
Possible dangers in the lowlands
“This means that roads will often be covered in snow at times and therefore difficult road conditions,” warn the meteorologists. It is advisable to allow more time for the commute to work, especially on Friday mornings. “If you haven’t changed to winter tires yet, you should definitely leave your car parked,” says Meteonews.
Due to the larger amounts of fresh snow, branches and trunks must also be expected to break. “The trees are far from being rid of all their leaves, which means that the snow can accumulate on the branches and under certain circumstances they can break under the weight,” explains Meteonews. In some cases, entire trees could topple under the weight of the snow. “In any case, it is advisable to exercise caution when walking in the freshly snow-covered forest on Friday.”
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