Alps Snow And Weather Conditions 2011-2012

[johnholmes]

I think what you did last year Julian was fine but if you are looking to change.

It might be a better idea to do north and south Alps rather than east west. Its usually north-south split in weather rather than west-east apart from frontal impacts moving in from the west.

I would keep the 850mb temperature prediction charts. They give a very good indication of what the temperature spread over the mountains may be. If you have space and time then include the zero isotherm but my preference would be for the 850mb temperatures.

As to any other additions then I suspect you are already pretty well busy with what you already do and are suggesting.

Linking in to a longer term and commenting as the poster above suggests would be fine if you have the time but detail for a week ahead is perhaps what most need. Fine to do a short paragraph on what the longer term may hold but not any great detail?

I'm sure a lot of folk are very happy with what you provide Julian.

[J10]

Cheers for the nice comments, I will do a chart for 8both 850Hp and Freezing Levels, but I will decide how to play it. Having too much info on 1 chart is counter productive.

[carinthian]

Morning all,

No snow here as far as the eye can see. Just endless clear days and a total brown landscape,. This time last year the ski lifts were opened early with a good one metre prepared ski base. Even if snowfall arrives in the next 7 days, there will now be a delay for the opening of the ski -season here. The hoteliers and resort management are now getting worried and glaring hopefully at the latest weather data for hopeful signs. Anyway back to chopping logs and topping up the sunshine!

C

hi,

Hopefully pictured attached. Shows the brown snowfields at 2000m.

C

[johnholmes]

keep the faith Paul-it will be white by Christmas!

[carinthian]

Yes John,

I hope you are right ! Now getting fed up with endless sunny days and Euro high. When are you off to Wengen , I guess that is now your second home ?

C

[johnholmes]

Yes John,

I hope you are right ! Now getting fed up with endless sunny days and Euro high. When are you off to Wengen , I guess that is now your second home ?

C

16 Jan-yes 2 weeks winter and 1 week summer, even the staff regard me as part of the fabric I think!

I'm fairly sure that the Alps will see snow within a 2 week time frame, perhaps a bit less.

[chrisbooth0070]

16 Jan-yes 2 weeks winter and 1 week summer, even the staff regard me as part of the fabric I think!

I'm fairly sure that the Alps will see snow within a 2 week time frame, perhaps a bit less.

I sure hope so - I am going to Mayrhofen on 15th December for 2 weeks.

A little bit worried to say the least!!

[johnholmes]

I sure hope so - I am going to Mayrhofen on 15th December for 2 weeks.

A little bit worried to say the least!!

yes its a bit early for this year chris-but it should certainly end up being okay

[jonnybradley]

Hi all,

again just to say I am no expert, so please correct me (anybody),

but the models do seem to be pointing to a much more unsettled period, which can only be good. Precipitation charts from GFS do show some precipitation rolling in from the Atlantic towards the end of next week (see ensemble for 192t bellow) for the Alps. Also GEM and JMA tell a similar story.

I know this is still someway off, especially for precipitation charts, but hopefully shows a trend back to more seasonal conditions and at least a start to that snow base we all feel should be building up by now.

Keep the faith!

Jon

[carinthian]

Morning all,

Another sparkling sunny morgan. Light frost last night. Different picture to this time last year. Maybe that cold front will bring some much needed moisture into the Austrian Alps this time next week?

In the meantime another endless sunny day beckons !

C

[J10]

http://forum.netweat...-25th-november/

The latest ski forecast has been issued. thoughts welcomed on its content and new format, i have spent a bit of time on it, so comments on it, good or bad welcomed.

GFS not looking that promising, mild for much of the mild, and the only chance of decent snowfalls towards Western areas, and then on higher slopes largely.

[SuttonStorm]

Thanks Julian - an interesting read. The divergence of the 850 temps was interesting and at the same time hard to understand (for me anyway) - why is there so much variation or are you indicating the possible range?

SS

[jonnybradley]

Jackone thank you. Format I like, with concise explanations that even wallies like me can follow.

As to the content, well still nothing substantial in the near term and its hard to see where its coming from with the highs over the content continuing?

Again my untrained eye! but the low (992mb) as seen on Fri 2nd charts, off the Portuguese coast, seems to get squeezed out by highs to East and West. If this should verify wouldn't it lose most of its steam before hitting the alps? This only to be followed in by another high!!! Although that is well into the longer range by that point.

As you say still up in the air at this stage, lets just keep our fingers crossed.

Thanks

Jon

[chrisbooth0070]

Looking a bit better for Friday onwards - band arrives at around T+114, so not that far off, plus has shown on most recent runs for that time.

Ititially looks to bring snow to areas over 1500m, but that should drop dramatically rather quickly.

Fingers crossed

[jonnybradley]

Looking a bit better for Friday onwards - band arrives at around T+114, so not that far off, plus has shown on most recent runs for that time.

Ititially looks to bring snow to areas over 1500m, but that should drop dramatically rather quickly.

Fingers crossed

Yep seeing the same thing. Most of the models show a low coming into northern UK at t+96 and getting pushed down into Europe. Lets hope this comes off. Certainly something to keep an eye on!!!

Anybody else got thoughts on how this might develop?

[jonnybradley]

[bump]

Bit dead in here? No change so far I guess.

T81 GFS

Yeah precipitation charts are not the most reliable but this has been in the models for the last couple of days. The pressure charts show a NW wind so this coming from one of the lows blowing across north UK.

This should at least be a start to the snow base and give some snow to most resorts.

Looks like high pressure could be returning into the end of next week! Lets hope it doesn't stay to long

[J10]

This is latest Snow Blog for the Alps. This is looking the best week in the Alps for a long time.

[johnholmes]

http://www.meteocent...etails/S067291/

A much more promising set of weather cams for the higher parts in the Alps, snowing fairly generally at 6000ft and predicted for the snowline to fall into the valleys over the weekend and into Monday.

The forecast for the Wengen area, using the forecast centre the Lauberhorn race committee use is very promising; at last!

see first line

http://www.bildersam...land/webcam.php

better for the Scottish ski areas as well

http://www.winterhig...ngorm-mountain/

the Wengen or rather Lauberhorn(7500ft) suggests precipitation totals of 20-25mm, which with temperatures well below zero C at that height suggests 25-35cm of snow?

Edited December 3, 2011 by johnholmes

[Ben_Cambs]

Yes finally some snow where I'm skiing after Christmas! May be wrong, but there could be some more significant snowfall on Monday and Tuesday across the Alps (GFS) as well as more snow further down the line. Things are looking better to say the least.

Edited December 3, 2011 by Ben_Cambs

[carinthian]

http://www.meteocent...etails/S067291/

A much more promising set of weather cams for the higher parts in the Alps, snowing fairly generally at 6000ft and predicted for the snowline to fall into the valleys over the weekend and into Monday.

The forecast for the Wengen area, using the forecast centre the Lauberhorn race committee use is very promising; at last!

see first line

http://www.bildersam...land/webcam.php

better for the Scottish ski areas as well

http://www.winterhig...ngorm-mountain/

the Wengen or rather Lauberhorn(7500ft) suggests precipitation totals of 20-25mm, which with temperatures well below zero C at that height suggests 25-35cm of snow?

Yes John, more excitement here in the camp this morning. Already more moisture in evidence and the latest charts show the cold front to bring 20 cm of snowfall to The Hohe Tauren by Monday afternoon with the snow level dropping to 1200m. Still all the resorts are empty, so a bumper snowfall will be good news for the Christmas booking, hopefully.

C

[J10]

Good to see the webcams this morning starting to show a bit of snow finally, and with the lower temps over the weekend, this is set to drop to resort level. However this new snow at higher levels should form a base for the season.

[johnholmes]

hi Julian

I know doing the Alps forecast is a large job but as a mod would you be able to put up a ski web cam thread that only allows actual links to be posted in? No added chat from anyone. It would be great for all ski enthusiasts to be able to log on to the cam for the area they are interested in?

I'm happy to send you pm's with a list to start of with if you would do it?

cheers

john

a few for starters!

Web cams as a starter

Jungfrau area

http://www.jungfrau.ch/en/tourism/travel-information/webcams/winter-webcams/

Innsbruck area

http://www.j2ski.com/ski_resorts/Austria/Innsbruck_webcams.html

Mayrhofen area

http://www.bergfex.com/mayrhofen/webcams/c1454/

or this site may cover the above and much much more?

http://www.snoweye.com/

Scotland

http://www.winterhighland.info/

Edited December 5, 2011 by JACKONE

[recklessabandon]

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/11/30/us-swiss-tourism-snow-idUKTRE7AS2VV20111130

Incredible really.

I'm off to Saas-Fee in 9 days.......I think I just about backed the right (only?) horse.....

[chrisbooth0070]

Looking must better on the mountains today - long may the snow continue

P.S. A sigh of relief from me - I go away skiing next week!

Edited December 5, 2011 by chrisbooth0070

[SuttonStorm]

I must admit, I am feeling much happier today :-) Another big dump expected from tuesday evening (too lower levels than today too) lasting for most of wednesday - will make a good base to work on.

Heading out on the 18th so lots more please

Good cam for the three valleys:

http://livecam.courchevel.com/index.php?webcam=4&langue=3

SS