PA#16: It's winter in the northern Alps!

PA#16: It's winter in the northern Alps!

Winter is back! Already 20-40 cm, locally up to 50 cm of fresh snow came down on the north side of the main alpine ridge since Sunday. The snow line dropped significantly and in some valleys it was around 900 meters last night. Winter will stick around for another week, with more snow coming down north of the main alpine ridge. Winter 16/17 goes out with a bang and PowderAlert #16 is ON in the northern Alps! In this forecast:

  • Nice images from the Alps
  • Lots of snow for the northern Alps
  • Low temperatures in the western and southern Alps, but no precipitation
  • PowderAdvice for the next couple of days

Nice images from the Alps

It’s Easter and it’s colder than during Christmas. Although the sun is much higher on the horizon than during Christmas and you can really feel the influence of the sun this time of the season. You can find some fresh snow on top of this season’s snowpack and in my opinion that has more to do with skiing and snowboarding than artificial white ribbons in a brown landscape that try to give you an illusion of winter. Some great images from today:

Davos
Davos
Davos
Davos
Engelberg
Engelberg
Kleinwalsertal
Kleinwalsertal
Gargellen
Gargellen
Stubai
Stubai
Sölden
Sölden

Lots of snow for the northern Alps

It will keep on snowing on the north side of the main alpine ridge of the Alps till Wednesday. A cold front will bring more unstable air to the north side of the Alps and because the current is turning to the northeast, snowfall is guaranteed till Wednesday (and in the east of the Alps even till Thursday).

Cold front
Cold front

A high pressure area is coming in from the west, but that’s not powerful enough to push the cold and unstable air away. It will keep on snowing east of Engelberg the next 48-72 hours. The air is unstable with some heavy snowfall on the north side of the Alps from time to time till Wednesday. There’s some room for the sun, but it definitely looks and feels like winter. Check out our snow maps for all the details. High pressure will take over on Thursday and you can expect some bluebird conditions in the entire Alps.

The question is how long high pressure will dominate. According to the latest calculations, a new storm is getting ready to bring winter back to the Alps in the weekend of the 22nd of April. It’s sounds unreal, but April could easily be a better month to ski or snowboard than December. Question is what to do? Surfing in the west of France or riding powder in the Alps. First world problems indeed. PowderAlert #17 might just be around the corner.

A new storm next weekend?
A new storm next weekend?

Low temperatures in the western and southern Alps, but no precipitation

The cold air from the north also penetrates the western and southern Alps, but you don’t have to expect any precipitation (except in the northern French Alps). Not now, and not for the rest of the week. You might see some clouds, but that’s it.

PowderAdvice for the next couple of days

I’d choose resorts in Austria and Switzerland with plenty of possibilities above 2000 meters. Pick a resort east of the Jungfrau Region, or, even better, everything east of Engelberg. Think of resorts like Engelberg, Davos-Klosters, the Arlberg, Sölden, Pitztaler, Stubaier and Kaunertaler glaciers, Kaprun and Sportgastein. Enjoy!

Stay stoked. Morris

meteomorris

Replies

Tourist
ecsjonesproAuthor20 April 2017 · 11:54

Looking to chase good snow from Paris tonight and head to Engelberg…concern for a solo scud mission for the day tomorrow is the sun will be strong and fry the snow early on…any insight on that? Today seems to be the day and tomorrow could get too warm, too fast…let me know what you think Morris!!Thanks

Expert
meteomorrisAuthor22 April 2017 · 14:10

@@ecsjones sorry, missed your post. There is new snow coming this weekend. And yes, it’s April and the sun already pretty strong. Timing is everything in this time of year. Hopefully you did get some.

powfinder.com
Tourist
damianladaAuthor25 April 2017 · 09:34

Morris next PA is coming :D where are U ? Did get lost in POWDER :)?

Advanced
ArjenproadminAuthor25 April 2017 · 12:28
One day, they'll invent synthetic powder, ban all kinds of work and give you a free liftpass...
Tourist
AnonymousAuthor28 June 2017 · 08:51

After reading the whole post, I have learned more about this topic. Thank you so much.

Reply
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