Yes, it’s winter! Winter is back in the Alps after five days with mild temperatures and you can expect winter conditions the whole week. The sun will come out on Monday, but there’s more snow in the forecast. But… not for everybody in the Alps. In this forecast:
- Already 10 to 45 cm of fresh snow
- Light snowfall in the northern Alps on Sunday
- The sun will come out on Monday (powder day!)
- A new storm will hit the Alps on Tuesday
- PowderAlert #3 from Thursday
^Support wepowder Become wePowder Pro member and get access to our 14-day snow maps. It works great for your karma as well!
Already 10 to 45 cm of fresh snow
An active front hit the Alps on Saturday. This storm first brought some snow to the French southern Alps and northern Italy. The quantities were limited by 5-10 cm and they still have to wait over there waiting for a big dump. The front then moved to the rest of the southern Alps, where about 10-15 cm of fresh snow came down. The ski areas on the border between Austria, Italy and Slovenia got a bit more (20-35 cm of fresh snow above 1400-1600 meters). At the same time, it started snowing from the northwest on Saturday and the snow line dropped rapidly from 1800 to 700 meters. The French northern Alps and the west of Switzerland received around 10-25 cm, locally 35 centimeters of fresh snow, but the snow cover is still a bit too thin to ride without being scared to hit a shark. Meanwhile, the sun came out from the west, but it still snowed on the north side of the main alpine ridge. The ski areas north of the Swiss northern alpine ridge and the typical northern stau resorts in Austria have already recorded 20-45 cm of fresh snow. It is still snowing (lightly) today with a snow line deep in the valleys.
The sun will come out on Monday (powder day!)
The precipitation decreases on Monday due to a high pressure area and it moves away to the east. The sun comes out in the entire Alps. Monday will be a powder day in the resorts on the north side of the main alpine ridge and the areas on the border between Italy and Austria thanks to all the fresh snow that came down on Saturday and Sunday. Unfortunately not all the resorts will be open, simply because the ski season didn’t start yet. Some tips for resorts for Monday where you can find some great snow:
The other glacier resorts in Austria are open as well. Unfortunately, Nassfeld in the south of Carinthia is still closed. But they sure do have a lot of snow as well.
A new storm will hit the Alps on Tuesday
A new storm will be heading to the Alps on Tuesday. Since the wind will turn to the southwest with the approaching new storm, it will temporarily be warmer on Tuesday morning. But once the storm moves the temperatures will drop and it feels like deep winter. According to the latest calculations, it will bring most of the snow to the north side of the main alpine ridge with a chance for snow for the region Italy/Austria/Slovenia.
All major weather models calculate snow this Sunday for the Northern Alps and our snow maps for the long term forecast the same. The maps continuously are showing a lot of colors and that is more than hopeful. If you want to look further into the future, become wePowder Pro member and get access to our 14-day snow maps. You’ll never miss a dump again, but you’ll also support us with the further development of wePowder, so it works for your karma as well. Thank you very much for your support.
PowderAlert #3 from Thursday
If the calculations are correct, the northern Alps (including the French northern Alps) and the resorts at the border of Austria/Italy/Slovenia can expect 20-45 cm, locally 60 cm of fresh snow with a snow line deep into the valleys. The rest of the southern Alps don’t have to expect any precipitation in these calculations. But there are calculations that do favor the Italian Piemondt. More info about that the next couple of days. But you can expect the PowderAlert #3 will be active north of the main alpine ridge from Thursday/Friday. The temperatures will drop, there is snow in the forecast and the base in large parts of the northern Alps is good. Time to block your agenda!
Discount on Mountain Academy
Want access to the most comprehensive online backcountry snow safety courses for skiers and snowboarders? Use code “WEARESKIING1718”, valid until the beginning of March, to get access for only 9€ (Reg: 29€). Go to Mountain Academy and start now!
Stay stoked,
Morris