It felt like winter on the glaciers after the snowfall of last week. The temperature rose rapidly after that and as a result a lot of snow below 2500-3000 meters already melted. There’s no significant snowfall in the forecast until the end of the week, but that can change in the beginning of October. The models are showing some indications of a storm that will reach the European continent via the North Sea and this will clear the road for cold air from the north.
Snow in September is only eye candy
September has been quite cold so far and that’s great news for the travel industry. Bookings are up compared to last year and the webcams showing white mountains definitely helped people to book their holiday. But snow that’s coming down in September is only eye candy. It will get you stoked and reminds you that winter is coming, but that’s it. It’s only the first layer of snow on the glaciers and in the high alpine above approx. 3000 meters. It’s the base that’s used by race teams to train on and it’s the snow that we use to work on our technique. But it has nothing to do with freeriding. The sun is still too high in the sky and the September snow will disappear before winter starts.
Anyway, we keep on following the snowfall in September and October because this snow can make a difference in the stability of the snow cover in the high alpine later this season. The stoke-o-meter is ON, but we realize that we’ll have to wait a bit longer before winter actually starts.
Turbulent weather in the beginning of October?
The beginning of next week will be interesting. The jetstream will turn to the north and cold and humid air will find a way to the Alps. The ensembles are positive that the snow will come fall and show a nice drop in temperature. When everything actually happens, an active storm depression will a way through the high pressure area that’s dominating southern and eastern Europe. If this happens, the snow will come down.
And pssst, the wePowder shop is online.
Stay stoked
Morris