[Blog] Alps Weather Blog 12th April

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Alps Conditions

There was decent fresh snow over medium to higher slopes at the start of the past week, but much milder temps has brought rain to all but the very highest slopes, making snow conditions not fantastic, despite the abundance of snow still at some higher slopes.

http://www.snow-forecast.com/overviews/tips_full

Looking very mild next week, so it really is a must to head for the very highest slopes.

Synoptic Summary

Low Pressure over the Alps at the moment, with a coolish Westerly flow, with low pressure also over the Atlantic and high pressure over the Azores and over Northern Africa. Over the weekend, the low pressure over the Atlantic will edge east with a mild SW flow setting up for NW Europe in conjunction with high pressure building over Europe to the East.

A mild SW flow is expected to persist until midweek with 850HPA reaching 10c at times over the Alps from a Spanish plume. Thereafter High Pressure is likely over the Alps but with mild air in situ more especially for SW parts of the Alps.

Alps Detail

Sat 13 Apr

Some overnight precipitation tending to clear quite quickly, so that by morning mostly dry over the Alps. A few patchy showers developing for the first part of the afternoon, but generally well scattered and not that heavy.

A north South split in the temperatures, Freezing Level (3pm) Southern Germany 1700m-2100m (N to S), French Alps 2200-2400m (NW to SE), Switzerland 2000-2300m (NW to S), Italian Alps 2100m-2300m, Austria 1700m-2100m (NE to SW)

Sun 14 Apr

A dry day seems likely over the Alps with decent sunny spells for skiing in for most, given the milder temps, some thaw is likely. It really is starting to warm up from the west with Freezing Level (3pm) Southern Germany 2000m-3500m, French Alps 3000-3500m, Switzerland 2500-3500m, Italian Alps 2000m-3500m, Austria 1600m-3000m (All East to West)

Mon 15 Apr

Another dry day seems likely over the Alps with decent sunny spells for skiing in for most, given the temps a rapid thaw is likely. The milder weather now covers the whole of the Alps. Freezing Level (3pm) Southern Germany 3000m-3200m, French Alps 3200-3400m, Switzerland 3200-3400m, Italian Alps 3200m-3600m, Austria 2400m-3200m (All East to West)

Tue 16 Apr

Mostly dry to start, a few showers developing in the morning, these tending to become far more extensive during the afternoon, heavy and moderate in places, largely falling as rain except on the highest slopes. Freezing Level (3pm) Southern Germany, French Alps, Switzerland, the Italian Alps, Western Austria 3000m-3100m, E Austria 2400m-3000m

Wed 17 Apr

Mostly dry in the morning, however showers tending to develop into the afternoon, heavy and moderate in places, largely falling as rain except on the highest slopes. Freezing Level (3pm) Southern Germany 2600m-2700m, French Alps 2900-3100m, Switzerland 2700-3100m, Italian Alps 3100m-3300m, Austria 2700m-3100m (All North to South)

More general precipitation into the evening for Austria.

18 April and 19 April

PA this stage, looking mostly dry after any initial precipitation moves away, perhaps tuning less mild from the NE for a time, but staying generally on the mild/warm side.

Summary

Very much looking as if Spring is on the way, a major thaw seems likely this week, with any lowers resorts still open taking a pounding. However it has been a great season and all things must eventually come to an end. Next week will see the final skiing forecast blog of the season.

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