stuboy
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Posts posted by stuboy
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A rare post from me on here, as I'm heading back to the slopes next week for the first time since 2015 (having young kids to look after does change your priorities!!).
I'm of to Sauze d'Oulx in Italy for the second time, having last visited in 2010. It does appear conditions have improved there now regarding snow. I was a bit nervous a couple of weeks ago. Anyone on here with more knowledge than me, have an idea if I should remain positive before I go out there on the 2nd Feb? It looks like there will be little snow this week following a good fall the last couple of days, but at least it is remaining cold.
Love viewing all the posts on this thread by the way, great pictures!
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Sunset reaches 18:00 for the first time tomorrow (my birthday!) here in Bagshot. It's great driving to and from work now in the daylight, makes a big difference.
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To say I'm jealous is an understatement! Having post holiday blues at work now! Roll on 2016...
I might return to Austria next year as it's been a while, also some of the reports of the Austrian resorts from members on here have really fuelled my interest. St Anton and Katschberg are definitely options. I have been to Saalbach many years ago, and could return, does any one have opinions on this resort?
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Hi all, well I arrived back from Passo Tonale this afternoon and I must say we had an excellent time. The scenery was fantastic and the snow was really good. The dumping last week really saved the day. I was quite jealous looking at some of the places in France and Austria on TV this week, but our conditions were just fine. In fact a moderate fall on Thursday evening/night resulted in a fantastic last day yesterday (Friday). There was powder on and off the pistes.
So another great winter holiday passes, and here's to next year! Good luck to those of you still heading out there this year, conditions from now onwards should be fantastic I think, very jealous! I will still follow this thread and all reports very closely!
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I've been to Arrabba, Cordara, Kitzbuhel, Soll, Saalbach and Hinterglemm, Les deux Alpes, St Anton [started late]...St Anton my least fav...lovely but least fav. Sauze D'Oulx next. Intend to do some more French and Switzerland next few years...I retire in 2 years and so time will become more free
BFTP
Sauze is great. Went there a few years ago and heard rumours it didn't get much snow. As we headed up there on the coach people were digging their cars out! So this blew that rumour out the water! Sauze itself isn't the biggest place, and the après can be a little quiet. However, personally I really enjoyed the town and skiing area (I think it's called the Milky Way - if memory serves correctly), there was loads of snow and the slopes were quiet and the scenery was fantastic. We even managed to head into Turin and watch Juve play AC Milan (with David Beckham and co), so it was a memorable trip.
Enjoy it, I'm sure you'll have a great time!
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It’s no good, I can’t hide my excitement! I’m off to Flaine very early tomorrow morning for a week’s skiing with my mates and the outlook for the coming week is very snowy! To the extent that I’ve dug out one of my summer tyres from the garage and been practicing putting on the snow chains in the dining room!
I think there’s a great 7 – 10 days of weather coming up for the Alps with the Euro trough established (and according to GFS and ECM likely to stay so over this period) with frequent frontal attacks from the NW bringing bands of snow every few days. Temps look set to stay below freezing most of the week, particularly for resorts in the eastern Alps. Exceptions might be lower French resorts as the western Alps will always be closer to warm sectors as fronts approach. Here’s a few 850 hPa charts from this evenings GFS 12z showing the frequency of snow-bearing fronts:
Sat 24th
GFS Sat 24Jan15 850.png GFS Sat 24Jan15 Precip.pngTue 27th
GFS Tue 27Jan15 850.png GFS Tue 27Jan15 Precip.pngThu 29th
GFS Thur 29Jan15 850.png GFS Thur 29Jan15 Precip.pngFri 30th
GFS Fri 30Jan15 850.png GFS Fri 30Jan15 Precip.pngRecretos in the Strat thread made a very interesting post (#1318 Page 66) yesterday regarding the Euro trough:
“….the strat does seem to have the upper hand, and the first end net result of this dynamics is the deep trough over Europe, evident on both GFS and ECM. And this situation is not some normal model calculation that lingers for a run or two before disappearing. This is largely stratosphere driven in the process, giving more security and weight to the situation with this trough….â€
The only possible downside for the coming week is the possibility that skiing might be impacted if snowfall gives white-out conditions, but hey, even that can be good fun as long as you don’t lose sight of the piste-side poles!
There’s wi-fi in the apartment so I hope to do a few posts with pics during the week.
I feel your excitement too! I'm off early Saturday morning and can't believe the turnaround! In Passo Tonale it suggest snow flurries for the next week with heavier stuff Thurs/Fri. Never sure how accurate these forecasts are though!
Enjoy your trip and we'll compare notes (and maybe pictures!) in a week or so. Can't wait! Off to pack the thermals!
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Fantastic conditions await you stuboy! According to the latest snow report from snow-forecast.com there are "great snow conditions throughout the area" with 80cm at town level and 400cm at the top. The next 5 days see up to another 19cms of snow and very low temps. With a bottom run at 1,885m it will take a very mild spell to mess things up and there's no sign of that in the forecasts up to mid next week. Have a great time!
Snow report from snow-forecast.com
Passo Tonale snow report 19Jan15.jpgsnow-forecast.com 6 day forecast http://www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/Passo-Tonale/6day/mid
Thanks! Yes I can't believe how it has turned around. Looking at the forecast for the week ahead it even says that around Saturday/Sunday the freezing point will be 0 metres! With temperature's getting very low. Not sure what the forecast is for next week but certainly a solid base has been laid now. Looking good for anyone heading over to the Alps in the next week to 10 days really.
I always think (just my personal opinion!) that heading out the end of Jan into Feb is always the best time and provides a decent chance of good conditions. We would go out later in Feb, but it's good to avoid half term, I love the clear slopes!
Thanks to you and J10 for all your updates, this is by far my favourite thread on Netweather, I love hearing about the snow and people's experiences during the winter! As well as the build up and anticipation of another season on the slopes!
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Yep, I'm mildly (mild isn't a good word to use!) optimistic now for Saturday when I head to Passo Tonale, the much needed snow has come and it looks like staying cold for a while at least!
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Are you on the Wengen Organising Committee John? That was a good call from you yesterday and it looks like the FIS have acted on your advice!!
This mornings model output still suggesting a very difficult weekend ahead for getting through the schedule. The 'bad' news is that heavy snow overnight Friday and into Saturday morning looks pretty certain now.
Snowforecast.com suggesting 29cm by Sat lunchtime (and Meteocentrale.ch 12 l/m2)
Snowforecast.com chart 15Jan15.jpgWe're in range of the Euro4 model now, so a few charts:
GFS 19.00 Fri
GFS Precip 19.00 16Jan15.png Euro4 18.00 Fri Euro4 18.00 16Jan15.gifGFS 01.00 Sat
GFS Precip 01.00 17Jan15.png Euro4 00.00 Sat Euro4 00.00 17Jan15.gifThe snow dies out later Saturday so moving the Men's Downhill 'jewel in the crown' race to Sunday afternoon gives the organisers a fighting chance of getting the course ready.
It will be a winter wonderland when you arrive on Sunday, and with very cold temps all week you should have a fantastic week. We're all very jealous!
Looking at the snow reports/forecasts it is suggesting the chance of continued snow next week, unless I'm mistaken? Which can only be a good thing for when I depart for Italy on the 24th! I'm being purely selfish here! Looks like John is going to have great conditions.
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I find the most often closest to what actually falls is this site, used by the Wengen Organising Committee
http://www.meteocentrale.ch/en/europe/switzerland/weather-wengen/details/S067281/
It gives weather details for thevillage, Maennlichen, Lauberhorn and Lauterbrunne in the valley. One thing to note are wind gusts for the top. Along with predicted snowfall it may well cause major issues with both the Combined and the Downhill.
The link below shows how things are at the top and finish for anyone wanting to see 'live' or previous footage.
http://www.lauberhorn.ch/en/?langId=2
The last picture is what is usually the open air ice rink (tennis courts in summer) turned into a jamboree area, marquees for paying gusts to eat and drink, open air stalls for the res, the presentation area etc. Hoping to see the slalom presentation Sunday afternoon if the travel goes as timed.
For everyone going out this weekend to the Alps or elsewhere good luck with your resort and good skiing, boarding or walking.
the link below will, hopefully, show the part of the course below the railway marked with red markers, it will on the day have the usual blue dye on it as well. Not being done yet as new snow will cover it all up
also visible far right prior to the Lauterbrunnen valley is somewhere very close to the finish area, I think the area of the S-bend prior to the near vertical drop into the finish area.
Very interesting John, but I wonder how the whole of the Alps will fare? Personally I have been a bit concerned about Italy this winter, especially the southern part of the Alps. However, my confidence is rising that right on cue, only about 10 days before I fly out there something is brewing. Don't want to tempt fate though! However, there are encouraging signs showing in the models and it's hard not to get excited!
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Watching Ski Sunday and the snow situation at Bad Kleinkirchheim in Austria looks depressing to say the least.
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With my trip to Passo Tonale 2 weeks away now I am really keeping my fingers crossed. In December I thought there was plenty of time for a dumping by the end of Jan, but amazingly it's not looking great. The last snowfall was on the 1st Dec!! Webcams are showing brown patches everywhere. The only saving grace is the glacier, but for me it's still disappointing when the resort runs are so poor, especially when they end right by the hotel you booked!
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So it looks like Passo Tonale finally got some snow! However, not having been there before can someone give me an idea of its exact location? Is it eastern Alps, and did it fair ok the last few days compared to other resorts?
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Looking like a lot of melting is going on at Passo Tonale at the moment.
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Looks like it has really fallen in Passo Tonale this weekend. When I looked on Friday the first dusting of snow had melted. Now white-out conditions today and looks like a fair bit has been dumped on the higher slopes. I will be interested to see the results once the cloud has lifted. Promising beginnings though...
To follow up on this post today, the webcams are looking pretty good! I read they got a dumping of up to a metre on the glacier! Excellent.
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Looks like it has really fallen in Passo Tonale this weekend. When I looked on Friday the first dusting of snow had melted. Now white-out conditions today and looks like a fair bit has been dumped on the higher slopes. I will be interested to see the results once the cloud has lifted. Promising beginnings though...
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Ah one of my favourite threads of the winter! I'm off to Passo Tonale the last week of January after a years break from the slopes of Europe. After the winter we had in the UK I can't wait for a fix of proper snow again! I've been following the Passo Tonale webcam, and the first snow has fallen over the last couple of days. So it's a step in the right direction!
Roll on January!
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Here in Maidenhead it has clouded up but no sign of a big storm here yet. Looks very cloudy and menacing to the west though. West of Reading I think. I came from work there not long ago and it was relatively clear (Reading that is).Cheers!!Yup it is to the West of Slough (Burnham). It is growing at a rapid pace I tell youGetting pretty dark here now too.It is about time Slough had a storm (thunderstorm or snow) being a direct hit. We always seem to clip the edge of it!
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Ah! You can even see my office on the left of the photo there! Maybe I was still at my window when you took that photo!Stuck on a packed very delayed train at Reading.... Problems at Newbury signals and it is mayhem. No ac!! Arghh. Still got a chance to take a photo outside the station? Thunderstorm brewing per chance?
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Any updates on how it's looking next week? I've seen heavy snow Monday into Tuesday for Italy maybe. Is this the case? I hope the ECM above is close to reality, I must admit to not looking too much into the Model thread recently, as of course it's focused so much on the UK and snow prospects here!
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Well, there you go! Latest ECM now has the low in a prime spot in the Med to deliver snow to the southern side of the Alps on Monday- including Livigno! I'm actually off to Madesimo next week, which isn't far away, so will be following with particular interest.
Well I hope the ECM verifies! Still a few days away though. Also, I don't fancy snowboarding through blizzards all week, not nice! It's a tough one, I love the snow but want a nice holiday too....ah one day of epic snow won't hurt will it?!
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Is it me, or does it look like being really cold this week (and maybe next week) in the Alps. I'm seeing top temperatures of -15 on Friday/Saturday for Livigno and a good chance of snow most days. Better take my thermals!!
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Well just over a week to go until I depart for Livigno and conditions seem to be half decent with snow to come this weekend. Keeping my fingers crossed they have a snowy week coming up, followed by sun when I get out there. However, this is often wishful thinking!!
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Thats exactly what happend in most parts on the SW on Friday.
It just hasent been cold enough at 2m.
Same here in Reading. Rather odd to have light to occasionally moderate snow for much of the day yet finish with less than you started!
I can only assume that the surface temp was above freezing for most of the period.
Still have a bit to come according to the radar (we're right on the edge here!), and the temp on my flat balcony is now below 1 degree for the first time today and falling. It does seem to be settling a bit more as we head towards the evening and colder conditions.
Worldwide Mountain & Snow Sports Discussion 2022/23
in Spring Weather Discussion
Posted
Well just back from a long weekend at Sauze d'Oulx and whilst not having the dumping of snow I had there 13 years ago, the pistes were still more than passable, if not a little busy. However, judging from what I'm reading above, it looks like they are really missing out this year on some proper snowfall as seen elsewhere in the Alps. Sauze could certainly do with another dumping, but it seems sunny, yet very cold, in the forecast.