Let’s mark October 11th 2013. It pretty much looks like October 7th 2011, when there was a lot of snow and it was possible to ride down to Hintertux. Will this be possible during this storm as well? The snowmaps look promising!
The (shifting) details
A low pressure area named Venon II is responsible for all the violence hitting the Alps. It will break free somewhere on Thursday and will start making its way to the north(west)ern regions of the Alps. At the same time, a low pressure area is forming south of the Alps. These two low pressure areas will move back and forth the next couple of days. This isn’t a problem when it’s mid winter, but with little resorts open in October (as in: glacier resorts) you just have to know where to go.
Which glaciers are already open? Which are worth the drive?
The following glaciers are (partly) open in Austria: Hintertux, Kaprun, Solden, Stubai, Pitztal, Kaunertal and the Mölltaler Gletsjer. Saas Fee and Zermatt are open in Switzerland. The Diavolezza glacier will probably open on the 19th of October. The Schnalstal and Stilfser Jochare open in Italy. If you wanna ski or board in the country of the croissant, you’re only option is the Grande Motte glacier in Tignes.
You’ll find the best conditions at the moment in Hintertux and the Stilfser Joch. They have the most lifts open and the base is pretty good for the beginning of October. If you have better suggestions, please share them in the comments!
Where will it snow?
The exact location of the low pressure areas will determine where we can harvest some white gold this weekend. According to the latest runs, the first really cold air will only arrive during Thursday afternoon and Thursday evening. They will collide with warmer air exactly above the main alpine ridge in Italy, Austria and Switzerland. The differences will be monstrogantic. The temperature will drop to minus 5 degrees at 1500 meters north of the main alpine ridge, but south of the main alpine ridge the temperature will be around seven degrees. At the same altitude that is. It will snow big time in between. Details will change the following days.
PowderAdvice
Hold your horses. Wait with your final decision till the details are clear. The good news is that it will snow big time (locally), the snowline will drop big time (temporarily) and the sun will come out on Friday. I’m still expecting around 40-70 centimeters of freshies.
Stay stoked
Morris
Replies
Engelberg/Titlis glacier opens on the 19th of October.