It's been snowing in the Alps since Sunday. There were some heavy winds in the high alpine when it started snowing, but thanks to a high-pressure area that's gaining ground from the west the wind won't be that strong anymore, which allows the snow to actually stay where it came down. You don't have to expect any precipitation in the Alps tomorrow. That will be temporarily, because new depressions are ready to send some storms to the Alps. In this forecast:
Between 5-30 cm of fresh snow has fallen on the north side of the Alps since Sunday and parts of the northern Swiss alpine ridge already got 50 cm and more. That has already resulted in some nice images and it is still snowing. The measuring stations now begin to show nice numbers, with numbers that are close to the 40-50 cm. It is important that you realize that the amount of snow that comes down and the amount of snow that eventually lies on the ground is not the same. Please read this article again.
You can easily find these measuring stations near a ski area on the new wepowder website. On the page of a ski area (for example, Glacier 3000) you will find a list of measuring and weather stations in the right column. Ideal to check the conditions. The figures from the measuring stations will increase even further today. It will keep on snowing until Tuesday morning. After that, high pressure will take over.
High pressure will take over from Tuesday. Warm air from the south arrives in the Alps and it just gets very warm again. Some residual clouds will remain in the valleys, but it's just dry and warm at the peaks. As a consequence, the snow that came down today and yesterday again will melt at low altitude. The high alpine still profits from the current snowfall. Fortunately, there is snow in the forecast again.
There's a new storm depression visible on the maps this weekend. High pressure is still around, but that's mostly calculated for the west and that means a free passage for a current from the north to the north side of the main alpine ridge. According to the latest calculations, the models agree that this attack with cold air will actually happen. The most important weather models models also calculate a drop in temperature drop from this weekend, with increasing precipitation.
The above plume of the ECMWF and GFS show the temperature peak, but also the drop in temperature. In addition, precipitation is calculated. Something that is very similar to our own model. There are some nice colors visible on the maps.
Stay stoked Morris