After the snowfall from last weekend it’s time for the sun to come out. A huge high pressure area called Lajana keep the fronts at some distance from the Alps the next couple of days. The temperatures during the day are going up again and with some sunshine and bluebird skies it’s pretty awesome to spend some time in the mountain. The nights are cool, if not cold. There’s some snow on the highest peaks and already Autumn at lower altitudes. A typical Indian Summer.
Lajana is dominating the weather
Looking back
Last weekend was a good test for our weather maps and forecast lists and they both passed. There was some snowfall, but due to the announced high snow line, it came down as wet snow at first and as dry snow only later in the weekend. This resulted in some snowfall in the main alpine ridge in Switzerland, Austria and Italy above 2300 meters. Particularly the glaciers are white again, but this is not nearly enough for the opening of many glacier resorts in the next six weeks. For example, the scheduled opening of Tignes is on October 3rd and they can have some more snow.
The highest peaks in Austria look white, but it snowed heavier than in France and temperature dropped for a short time.
Tignes September the 7th
Hintertux September the 7th
Looking forward
Sunshine and warm temperatures will dominate in the Alps till Thursday. After that the air will become a bit more unstable. This only leads to snowfall above 3000-3500 meters altitude, due to warm upper air. The southern current will bring warm air to the Alps in the beginning of next week as well. Only during the weekend that the opening of the glaciers in the Pitztal and the Kaunertal is planned, the temperature seems to drop a bit and it might even snow. Probably too late for the opening, but great news anyway!