The State of the Swiss Snowpack: Deep Totals & Unstable Layers

Switzerland has seen significant snowfall over the past two weeks, dramatically reshaping the country’s snowpack, and sharply increasing avalanche danger.

Last week alone, parts of western Switzerland were buried under 1 to 1.5 meters (3 to 5 feet) of snow. Another meter fell this week in some regions, pushing fresh storm totals to as much as 2.5 meters (8 feet). The new snow has helped erase what had been a snow-poor winter in the west, with snow depths in some areas now well above seasonal averages. According to the WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research (SLF), snow events of this magnitude occur every five to 13 years in Switzerland.

• Related: Switzerland Declares Highest Avalanche Warning Level in Parts of Wallis/Valais After Heavy Snowfall

But the snow came with a serious catch. What makes this cycle particularly concerning is what lies beneath the new snow. The fresh load fell on an older, unstable snowpack that in many regions contained angular, faceted weak layers. North of a Rhône–Rhine line, these weak layers were present but less pronounced. South of that line, however, the base of the snowpack was in places entirely faceted and structurally weak.

The weight of up to 2.5 meters of new snow dramatically increased stress on these fragile layers. Forecasters warned that spontaneous avalanches were likely, and many of them have fractured deep into the snowpack. In southern regions, where weak layers were especially pronounced and only thinly covered before the storms, even slightly smaller additional loads were expected to trigger natural releases.

• Related: Avalanche Derails Train in Switzerland, Leaving 5 Injured

Even after precipitation ended, the snowpack has remained unstable. On Wednesday, February 18, numerous settling noises—audible collapses within the snowpack— were reported, a clear red flag for persistent slab instability. Avalanches have been described as easy to trigger, including from a distance.

While western Switzerland now boasts above-average snow depths, the picture is more mixed in the east and south, where many areas remain near or below seasonal norms.

Currently, the deepest snowpacks are found at:

These totals reflect the dramatic turnaround in the west, where conditions have shifted from thin coverage to midwinter depth in a matter of days.

The heightened instability has had tragic consequences. Four people were killed in avalanches in Switzerland over the past week. Two backcountry travelers died near Airolo in the canton of Ticino on February 13. On February 15, one person was killed near Davos in Graubünden, and another died near Savognin, also in Graubünden, on February 17.

The deaths bring Switzerland’s avalanche fatality total this winter to 13. The country averages approximately 18.3 avalanche deaths per year.

For skiers and riders, the storms have transformed the landscape, particularly in the west, delivering some of the deepest snow totals of the season. But the combination of rapid loading, persistent weak layers, and widespread natural avalanche activity means conditions remain high consequence—especially in the backcountry.

Big snow cycles can reset a winter. They can also expose its deepest weaknesses. For now, Switzerland’s snowpack is both abundant and fragile—a reminder that depth alone does not equal stability. The current avalanche danger across much of Switzerland sits between level 3-4 out of 5. The biggest risk persists in the cantons of Valais/Wallis, Graubünden/Grischa, and Ticino/Tessin. SLF recommends for people to stay on groomed runs, particularly those with no off-piste skiing experience.

Annual Avalanche Fatalities by Country