Snow And Ice In The Northern Hemisphere

[Gavin P]

I never realised that places like Mongolia ans southern Siberia saw such early snow,

Typically, I don't think it does.

Edited September 6, 2010 by Gavin P

[summer blizzard]

Typically, I don't think it does.

I did'nt think that there would be a massively linier progression because you have things such as altitude to take into account, however i would of thought that snow in places such as Mongolia would only occur after there was a sizeable snow patch about half way into Siberia, certainly interesting because i remember last years thread however i did'nt pay as much attention to it.

[Cymro]

Seems to be a lot of early snow building up this year. If I remember rightly last year was a fairly good and early seasons for the alps also. Seems to be a bit of a continuum here where autumn is arriving a lot earlier. And given the relatively cool summer, the cooler it gets the better it will be in the long run for snow retention.

[stewfox]

Good stuff Blizz'

Looks to have already started with 3 new patches showing up since yesterday and a small patch in Canada.

Can somone post a link to this site.

[cyclonic happiness]

Can somone post a link to this site.

site appears to be offline or something atm, i'll try to post a link in the morning

[cyclonic happiness]

Here is latest pic, as you can see there has been a little bit of loss in southern russia but a gain in eastern siberia, so snowlevels are holding steady atm.

link to snowcover website.......

http://www.natice.noaa.gov/ims/

[cyclonic happiness]

Not much to report today, there has been a little meltback in Russia, but a good gain on Victoria Island Canada.

[Cymro]

Not much to report today, there has been a little meltback in Russia, but a good gain on Victoria Island Canada.

Ice seems still to be decreasing quite a bit.

[phil nw.]

Ice seems still to be decreasing quite a bit.

It`s probably close to "bottoming out" now though Adam,it`s usually around early-mid September when the minimum is reached overall.

The graph below illustrates the historical peaks and troughs of the NH icecover.

It`s noticeable how theminimum cover has shrunk during this last decade though.

[BornFromTheVoid]

It`s probably close to "bottoming out" now though Adam,it`s usually around early-mid September when the minimum is reached overall.

The graph below illustrates the historical peaks and troughs of the NH icecover.

It`s noticeable how theminimum cover has shrunk during this last decade though.

That's the anomaly chart. To see the maximum peaks and minimum troughs, you need the area figures http://arctic.atmos.uiuc.edu/cryosphere/IMAGES/seaice.area.arctic.png

We should see a big jump in snow cover in the next day or 2. Lots of cold air flooding into Siberia from today right through the weekend and doesn't look like leaving anytime soon!

[phil nw.]

That's the anomaly chart. To see the maximum peaks and minimum troughs, you need the area figures http://arctic.atmos....area.arctic.png

We should see a big jump in snow cover in the next day or 2. Lots of cold air flooding into Siberia from today right through the weekend and doesn't look like leaving anytime soon!

Yes i clicked on wrong link, thanks for that.Still my general point is not lost regarding the minimum being around now.

[BornFromTheVoid]

Yes i clicked on wrong link, thanks for that.Still my general point is not lost regarding the minimum being around now.

Yep, you're completely right. The minimum occurs during the next week on average.

Are there any maps around for average snow extent this time of year?

[cyclonic happiness]

Yep, you're completely right. The minimum occurs during the next week on average.

Are there any maps around for average snow extent this time of year?

http://www.natice.noaa.gov/ims/archive.html

you can use this link to trawl through all of the old years snow and ice cover, shame they don't date the things, you just have to open and look till you get around about the right date.

[BornFromTheVoid]

http://www.natice.noaa.gov/ims/archive.html

you can use this link to trawl through all of the old years snow and ice cover, shame they don't date the things, you just have to open and look till you get around about the right date.

Cheers!

Looks like we're not doing to badly compared to last year at least

[cyclonic happiness]

not too much going on compared to yeasterday but, here you go any ways

[Turnedoutniceagain]

Compared to the first chart you posted, Siberia has had a fair bit of snow.

Keep BTW, great thread !!

[Isolated Frost]

Compared to the first chart you posted, Siberia has had a fair bit of snow.

Keep BTW, great thread !!

Actually, politically, that's not Siberia, it's the Far Eastern Federal District of Russia. With Yakutsk being the largest city there, however, I'm just being pedantic, however, geographically it is Siberia.

Great thread though... snow as far down as 27 degrees north! Himalayas obviously though, Mount Everest has snow forecast for all of this week, with K6 recording temps under -15c all week aswell.

Expect powder in Siberia aswell, some Ski Resorts predicting up to 10cm tomorrow...

[Cymro]

Actually, politically, that's not Siberia, it's the Far Eastern Federal District of Russia. With Yakutsk being the largest city there, however, I'm just being pedantic, however, geographically it is Siberia.

Great thread though... snow as far down as 27 degrees north! Himalayas obviously though, Mount Everest has snow forecast for all of this week, with K6 recording temps under -15c all week aswell.

Expect powder in Siberia aswell, some Ski Resorts predicting up to 10cm tomorrow...

Haha this made me chuckle. And yes quite a bit more of snow over russia compared to yesterday you watch by saturday the major difference we will see. Also seems the ice has thickened in this one compared to the one the day before which is weird but too my eye the yellow which symbolises the ice looks far more bold.

[Isolated Frost]

Another dusting of fresh snow in Austria above about 2200m goes to show winter isn't far away. Glacier conditions are ever improving with the fresh snow but while it's falling the visibility is poor.

AUSTRIA Winter continues to prove that it's only just round the corner, as it's snowing again up high. Both Hintertux (95cm) and the Molltal Glacier (130cm) received around 5cm of fresh snow on the night of Wednesday 8th September and it continued to snow on Thursday 9th. The visibility at both resorts was limited because of the bad weather but the fresh snow was enough to put a smile on the face of skiers and boarders.Snow fell down to around 2000m at other locations in Austria, including Obergurgl. This is usually the first Austrian resort without a glacier to open for the winter. This weekend should be warm and sunny across the whole of Austria but then there's further cold and snowy weather on its way for next week, especially up high.

FRANCE The summer ski season is now over at Tignes, Val d'Isere and Les Deux Alpes. Maintenance work will take place between now and when they open for the winter 2010/11 season.

SWITZERLAND Saas Fee (109cm) received 5cm of fresh snow on Wednesday 8th September, providing a refreshing boost to the ski area. There are four pistes open on the glacier at the moment along with various features in the snowpark, including the halfpipe Zermatt (168cm) was unfortunately closed for snowsports on Thursday 9th September. The weather was quite changeable but it is forecast to be brighter from Friday 10th through to Sunday 12th September in Switzerland so it should be a great weekend.

ITALY Val Senales (100cm) is in great shape following fresh snowfall this week. The new snow has freshened up the on-piste snow cover, improving the riding conditions for visitors this week and over the weekend. Further snowfall could land on Friday 10th September then sunny skies are forecast for Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th September Cervinia is now closed for the summer season. The lifts are scheduled to reopen for the winter season on 30th October.

NORTH AMERICA The Blackcomb Glacier at Whistler has now closed for the summer ski season. They will reopen again in November for the start of the winter season Timberline in Oregon, America is now closed for the summer ski season. The resort plans to open for their autumn skiing season on 1st October, but this is dependent on the snow conditions.

AUSTRALIA Australia's snowiest season in 25 years continues to provide some great skiing into their spring months. Recent weather has been quite mild and has unfortunately brought some rain with it but a decent base at most places means this is no big issue.All 15 lifts are running this week at Falls Creek (113/120cm). The lower slopes get quite slushy in the afternoon and the recent rain hasn't helped but up high there is plenty of good snow. Most of Mount Buller's (76/130cm) lifts are running as well. Like Falls Creek, the snow on the lower slopes is a little slushy but head higher and it's a bit better. The park is also fully open with lots of features, big and small.A nice and sunny weekend is expected before some light snow moves in on Monday 13th September. It's expected to bring around 6cm of fresh snow to the mountains.

NEW ZEALAND Spring riding conditions now dominate across the New Zealand resorts despite fresh snowfall at some locations this week. The spring conditions mean that the snow is firmly packed first thing in the morning but it then softens as the day warms up, providing more forgiving conditions in the afternoon Mount Dobson (300cm), Mount Olympus (120cm), Mt Lyford (280cm), Rainbow (67cm), Treble Cone (144cm), Turoa (171cm) and Whakapapa (130cm) have all received a light dusting of snow this week Cardrona (105cm) has been closed for most of this week and will remain closed on Friday 10th September while they finish the maintenance work being carried out on the oxidation pond.My Lyford and Rainbow were unfortunately closed for snowsports on Thursday 9th September due to snowy weather reducing the visibility.Changeable weather is forecast over the weekend in New Zealand, with a chance of light snowfall at times. The second half of next week is then forecast to be mostly snowy. The heaviest snowfall is expected at Mount Olympus and Treble Cone, where 76cm of new snow is forecast to land by Friday 17th September.

CHILE The only Chilean resorts to report any fresh snow in the last week are La Parva (145cm), El Colorado (50/70cm) and Valle Nevado (40cm), which make up the Three Valleys ski area. Here up to 20cm of new snow fell on Saturday 4th September. Despite this new snow spring riding conditions now dominate and this is the same story for all of our featured Chilean resorts, especially given the sunny weather this week.The weather is expected to change this week though. Cloudy weather and a drop in temperature is forecast on Friday 10th September and fresh snow could fall. Sunny weather could then return for a period on Saturday 11th to be followed by more clouds on Sunday 13th September.

ARGENTINA There hasn't been any fresh snow in Argentina since 30th August but the existing snow conditions are generally good. Cerro Catedral (60/320cm) has the deepest snow base and subsequently has the best skiing. There is plenty of snow on the upper slopes so on and off-piste skiing should remain good for the rest of the season. Approximately half of their lifts have been open this week.The weekend ahead is looking like being warm and sunny at all our Argentinean resorts. After the weekend there is some snow forecast, especially to Cerro Catedral. Here they are expecting 24cm of fresh snow next week.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Sorry about the hyperlinks, added from snow-forecast.com, this is their snow report. Good to see the Alps getting fresh dustings!

[Turnedoutniceagain]

Actually, politically, that's not Siberia, it's the Far Eastern Federal District of Russia.

Mastermind - specialist subject: Smugness !!

[Isolated Frost]

Mastermind - specialist subject: Smugness !!

Soon, the glaciers of North Norway and the mountain ranges of Eastern Europe should get snow. When will the Highlands snow show up... possibly early October?

[cheeky_monkey]

im on site in jasper right now in the canadian rockies..tis lunchtime here..there has been a big extension of snow cover at higher elevations in the last 10 days...cool and cloudy at times today temp around 7c which is about 8 or 9 degrees below normal.

[cyclonic happiness]

Good news today!

we have 3 new patches, but what is most noticable is how far south and early the snows are in tibet/china and the himalayas.

[Isolated Frost]

Good news today!

we have 3 new patches, but what is most noticable is how far south and early the snows are in tibet/china and the himalayas.

The northern tip of Siberia has had quite a top-up aswell!

[Met4Cast]

It seems Iceland has had some, too.