Bluebird, snowfall and low temperatures during the weekend

Bluebird, snowfall and low temperatures during the weekend

Get up early, plan carefully and don’t forget to use sunscreen. It’s a classic week to go ski touring. It’s warm, the sun is strong and the sky is blue. You can still find some powder on steep north faces (the old weak layer is still a problem), and on the other expositions the sun is something to keep in mind. A front will cold air and snow for the Italian Piedmont will come in this weekend. In this forecast:

  • Fresh snow on the border of Italy/Switzerland and Italy/France
  • Bluebird conditions
  • The weather will change this weekend
  • High pressure will dominate again after the weekend

Fresh snow on the border of Italy/Switzerland and Italy/France

PowderAlert #15 was pretty good. It’s been snowing in the Alps since last Wednesday and it was white again on the border of Italy and Switzerland and on the border between Italy and France. On average 50-100 cm, locally even 140 cm of fresh snow came down in 96 hours. Especially in the night from Saturday to Sunday, there was a lot of snowfall on the border between Italy and France. Although the snow line was still between 1900 and 2200 meters at first, but it dropped towards 1500 meters or even lower during the night.

Sunday started white and cold, but mild(er) air came in pretty soon. It was cloudy in the Piedmont for a long time which wasn’t helping the visibility. It was better on the French side of the border where the sun came out and the day started with cold powder.

Bluebird conditions

The sun is shining in the Alps since Monday and it’s spring. It is mild, the sun is powerful and powder is hard to find. But there’s change on its way.

Cold front on its way
Cold front on its way

The weather will change this weekend

A cold front is heading to the Alps from Friday. It passes the Pyrenees on Friday (expect some rain over there at first) and cold air will come in during the night to Saturday. The snow line will drop to 1300-1500 meters. The Pyrenees can expect 15-30 cm, locally 40 cm between Friday and Sunday. But the window is short. The temperature will rise again during Sunday.

Same story for the Alps, but with several hours delay. A front passes from the southwest on Saturday. This front will bring colder air and snow to the French southern Alps and the Piedmont. The air is not as cold as in the Pyrenees, so the snow line will be around 1500-1700 meters. The snow line might only drop a bit in narrow valleys. You can expect 5-20 cm of fresh snow. The temperature will rise again on Sunday and because there are also some clouds you can expect some slushy snow. The sun will come out on Monday and you can ride some powder on the high north facing slopes in the French southern Alps and the Piedmont.

High pressure will dominate again after the weekend

High pressure will take over again after the weekend and the sun will return. The ‘it always snows in April’ sump is not even close yet.

Stay stoked. Morris

meteomorris

Replies

Tourist
AnonymousAuthor31 March 2017 · 00:34

Hi Morris + Everyone,
As a Weekend Warrior, this one looks difficult. Headed to western Switzerland or French alps - where would you recommend? We love spring skiing, but this weekend looks not too warm. Any advice for best sun-kissed snow? (also, we are sleeping in the van, so limited where we can go). We planned Verbier or Cham, but looks like both are overcast with limited corn conditions and no meaningful snow.

thanks for your input!!!

Expert
meteomorrisAuthor31 March 2017 · 17:11

@@dpenn, I would go to Sestriere. Powder guaranteed on Sunday.

powfinder.com
Expert
meteomorrisAuthor31 March 2017 · 17:12

Heen Sestriere might be to far away, than I would suggest Val d’Isere.

powfinder.com
Advanced
ridermarangoniAuthor4 April 2017 · 15:32

Yesterday 3rd April in Monterosa

Tourist
AnonymousAuthor5 April 2017 · 16:00

Hi…is this the end of PAs for the season?

Tourist
AnonymousAuthor5 April 2017 · 18:03

… depends on the weather

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