Alps Weather And Skiing Conditions

[Polar Front]

Southern Alps being buried under snow at the moment. Snow is forcast from today to Sunday with up to 1 metre falling in the Italian Dolomites. Totals over the last 3 weeks could be up to 3 metres! This is an unbelievable amount of snow considering that in 2007 & 2008 the maximum depth at the top of the mountain in Marilleva/Folgarida was 30cm & 50cm!!

http://www.ski.it/cms-01.00/articolo.asp?I...;s=689&l=EN

[nick sussex]

Southern Alps being buried under snow at the moment. Snow is forcast from today to Sunday with up to 1 metre falling in the Italian Dolomites. Totals over the last 3 weeks could be up to 3 metres! This is an unbelievable amount of snow considering that in 2007 & 2008 the maximum depth at the top of the mountain in Marilleva/Folgarida was 30cm & 50cm!!

http://www.ski.it/cms-01.00/articolo.asp?I...;s=689&l=EN

The early season skiing conditions are excellent in the Pyrenees also, with my nearest resort Cauterets up to nearly 200 cms of snow on the higher slopes, this is amazing given the time of year, the outlook is great here also with more snow forecast.

It actually snowed a bit here today at just 1,200 feet and has been generally much colder than at anytime during the whole of last winter.

[J10]

http://www.netweather.tv/forum/index.php?showtopic=51392

The latest blog forecast has now been published, and it is a very interesting weekend,with a real chance of some heavy snowfall, but with milder sectors of air around the Alps, predicating the freeing and the Snow Rain levels is problematical to say the least.

[mcboz]

Thanks for the update.

Not sure if I like this up coming high pressure situation. Currently outside the reliable time, but does look likely to happen and the positioning of the high pressure is key.

If there was an easterly flow over the Alps what kind of conditions would this bring, dry and cold I guess?

Fingers crossed for my New Year trip……

[J10]

An easterly would be fine, and with the current snow, this what be good, we certainly do not want Mr B making an extended return.

[johnholmes]

If there was an easterly flow over the Alps what kind of conditions would this bring, dry and cold I guess?

Fingers crossed for my New Year trip……

it depends on where the air is originally sourced from.

s of e and not good, n of e and okay, usually dry and bitterly cold; not much fun skiing in it!

If the flow is cyclonic, ie around a low south of the Alps; then initially plenty of snow on the northern side especially but, with time, turning to rain at lower levels. South of the Alps then it soon does this.

At least that is my experience.

[BLAST FROM THE PAST]

Thanks Jackone, excellent as usual and yes what a cracking start. My resort of Saalbach is way ahead of schedule re snowbase. Keep it coming

BFTP

[frozencanals]

Hi Folks

Has any one heard anout the huge amounts of snow that have fallen in the Austrian Alps over the last few days, in Some places they have had over 2m of snow, I saw some impressive photos earlier, just trying to find them again.

Cheers

FC

[Kiwi]

Lots of cheery news on this thread.

I'm off to Austria (small village of Russbach in Daschstein west area) on the 20th Dec and the snow is looking great!

Shame the same can't be said for the pound v euro B)

Edited December 13, 2008 by Kiwi

[J10]

Latest update on the Snow depths - In Brackets figures relate to 7 Dec

http://www.skiclub.co.uk/skiclub/reports/o...iew/default.asp

France

Alpe d'Huez 99cm/130cm (60cm/130cm) 11 Dec 10cm

Chatel 105cm/180cm (40cm/120cm) 10 Dec 10cm

Courchevel 65cm/135cm (20cm/95cm) 10 Dec 10cm

Morzine 65cm/195cm (30cm/110cm) 11 Dec 10cm

Tignes 75cm/140cm (66cm/120cm) 12 Dec 5cm

Val Thorens 90cm/110cm (80cm/120cm) 10 Dec 10cm

Switzerland

Wengen 35cm/70cm (30cm/45cm) 12 Dec 5cm

Zermatt 55cm/250cm (30cm/252cm) 12 Dec 10cm

Italy

Bormio 55cm/260cm (55cm/260cm) 10 Dec 10cm

Austria

Saalbach 50cm/115cm (30cm/95cm) 7 Dec 10cm

Niederau 20cm/70cm (15cm/60cm) 7 Dec 15cm

[Kaaren]

Evening Pisteurs! I'm off down to Le Grand-Bornand, Haute Savoie on Tuesday for 15 days. Awesome amounts of early season snow (70 cms / 120 cms), considering it's a relatively low resort. Temperatures have remained in the minus figures, plus it's alpinage so the snow will stay. Of course as the dumping has happened quicky and in one hit, there hasn't been the freeze-thaw cycle that 'glues' the snow base, hence a considerable avalanche risk. :o The resort is 80% open although all black runs are off limits. (Obviously.)

We ski there a couple of times a season but Christmas back in 2006 there was no snow! Plus the temperatures were above the critical minus 3 in order that the snow cannons were cranked up. So, we went 'next door' to La Clusaz , a higher resort within The Aravis range but rock, (vaiselles!) based and the snow degrades faster, mullering newly ground and waxed skiis. Grrhh! :o

To everyone skiing this season, do have fun and stay safe.

Joyeux Noel!

[Nights King]

Im going to Niederau in only a couple of weeks now on the third and it looks great there so far but still couple of weeks away and i have already been skiing 3 other times in 2 locations and never seen a flake of snow while out there. last year it rained for 3 days in Niederau but the conditions were still quite good.

The harsh thing was the last time i went over there we had 4 inches of snow back at home in somerset which just about melted away when i touched down ar bristol airport.

come on let me see something this year.

[carinthian]

Morning all,

Just blown away with the amount of snowfall here. Whatever happens now ,a fantastic base foundation has been made and should be preserved for much of the coming season. Euro High on the cards for the run up for the Christamas/ NewYear Break should make for some great ski-ing.

C

[mcboz]

If these charts come off it's looking pretty nippy for my New Year skiing trip!

Does the pressure chart show any precipitation for the French Alps? I never quite sure if you can work out rainfall from pressure charts.....

[J10]

Latest Blog update and things looking very positive, you will notice I have used the new charts for the first time, please let me know if you like them and please give any suggestion for future use etc.

http://www.netweather.tv/forum/index.php?s...c=51572&hl=

[J10]

Latest Snow Depths from the Ski Club of GB website

Latest update on the Snow depths - In Brackets figures relate to 14 Dec

http://www.skiclub.co.uk/skiclub/reports/o...iew/default.asp

France

Alpe d'Huez 62cm/130cm (99cm/130cm) 19 Dec 5cm

Chatel 85cm/130cm (105cm/180cm) 17 Dec 10cm

Courchevel 30cm/85cm (65cm/135cm) 17 Dec 5cm

Morzine 40cm/145cm (65cm/195cm) (30cm/110cm) 17 Dec 10cm

Tignes 88cm/140cm (75cm/140cm) 18 Dec 5cm

Val Thorens 80cm/110cm(90cm/110cm) 19 Dec 2cm

Switzerland

Wengen 35cm/60cm (35cm/70cm) 20 Dec 8cm

Zermatt 62cm/250cm (55cm/250cm) 20 Dec 5cm

Italy

Bormio 75cm/290cm (55cm/260cm) 14 Dec 30cm

Austria

Saalbach 40cm/125cm (50cm/115cm) 21 Dec 15cm

Niederau 40cm/100cm (20cm/70cm) 20 Dec 25cm

[J10]

Latest Blog now out, Remaining sunny and dry over the weekend.

http://www.netweather.tv/forum/index.php?s...c=51821&hl=

[john w]

Good update on the forecast.

I cant se much in the way of Niederschlag coming to any of the western alps or pyrenees for the next 2 weeks. However I have not model watched consistantly for a few days.

Is the 12z a dry run elimininating moisture from the setups is is the what is an apparant blocking finger of high preventing any real moisture getting in to the western areas.

A return to a NW setup would be nice insofar that the 20cm on the slopes of la plagne will be more for when i go (2 weeks).

Anyone else off skiing tomorrow? Is a popular week this year apparantly..make sure u take plenty of thermals!!

John

[J10]

Latest Blog now out, remaining cold with decent sunny spells, but some snow is possible Monday into Tuesday.

http://www.netweather.tv/forum/index.php?s...=0#entry1410221

[john w]

Ah cheers,

Like I said I have been away for a couple of days.

Interesting setups though....much of the mountain areas seem to be on the easterley or northerley of any high extending in to the continent...so could well give rise to some accumulations.

Checked ECM and the ENSEMBLES as well as JMA and most do seem to show a drier setup. The 12z op seemed to be the highest pressure though after 5/6th Jan...so if it is off the mark as I expect...then there may be some further precip as and if any breakdown does occur!

This ill go put my feeling for the uk in the model thread now

[J10]

There is definitely some uncertainty about any snow potential, but I think cold looks pretty likely.

[Pipine]

Thanks for the update. I'm off to Deux Alpes in 3 weeks time so hoping for some dumps around then. Then Banff in feb and the alps again in March.. I'm sure I'll see some nice fresh stuff at some point

[J10]

Latest Snow Depths from the Ski Club of GB website

Latest update on the Snow depths - In Brackets figures relate to 24 Dec

http://www.skiclub.co.uk/skiclub/reports/o...iew/default.asp

There have generally been cold conditions across the Alps, with a very firm base, however snowfalls have been generally light, so snow depths have slightly fallen over the past week or so.

France

Alpe d'Huez 70cm / 120cm (62cm/130cm) 1 Jan 10cm

Chatel 85cm/106cm (85cm/130cm) 17 Dec 10cm

Courchevel 57cm/83cm (30cm/85cm) 1 Jan 10cm

Morzine 40cm/160cm (40cm/145cm) 31 Dec 1cm

Tignes 83cm/130cm (88cm/140cm) 31 Dec 15cm

Val Thorens 65cm/100cm (80cm/110cm) 1 Jan 15cm

Switzerland

Wengen 50cm/75cm (35cm/60cm) 1 Jan 8cm

Zermatt 65cm/200cm (62cm/250cm) 1 Jan 40cm

Italy

Bormio (35cm/290cm (75cm/290cm) 29 Dec 3cm

Austria

Saalbach 40cm/125cm (40cm/125cm) 24 Dec 5cm

Niederau 40cm/80cm (40cm/100cm) 25 Dec 5cm

[J10]

Apologies for the lack of updates of this tonight, there will be an update tomorrow morning or early afternoon.

However in summary, remaining mainly dry with long sunny spells for the usual forecast period (until Tuesday), temperatures are set to rise on recent levels with freezing levels set to get closer to 1500m by day.

[J10]

This weeks update has now been issued here http://www.netweather.tv/forum/index.php?s...c=52422&hl=