PA#23: last lift assisted powder of the season?

The Easter weekend was very mild in the Alps, but a temporary drop in temperature with significant snow is in the forecast. There are still areas where the lifts are running and so we are preparing for PowderAlert #23. Around 30-70 cm of fresh snow has fallen above 2500 meters in the Italian piedmont and the bordering areas in Switzerland and France the last couple of days. It snowed heavily in the high alpine, but it rained in the valleys, in particular around the Monte Rosa massif

New storm, snow line towards 1500 meters and lower

A new storm with the name Theodor is on its way to the Alps. With a core above the British Isles, cold air is drawn in from the north and pushed towards the Alps. This results in significant snowfall above 1400 - 1700 meters between Thursday afternoon and Friday evening. The current is southwest first, but it turns west to northwest after the front has passed, with a snow line that will drop rapidly. I expect the most snow around the Gotthard, Monte Rosa, Mont Blanc and Gran Paradiso.

A second storm follows on Friday. Now the direction is more west-northwest and the supplied air is a lot colder. The snow line can drop to 1200 meters. But don’t forget, it’s April. The sun is powerful and it warms up quickly. With a northwestern current, it now snows mainly in the west and northwest of the Alps.

Not a lot of sunshine

A lot of snow, but two snow fronts also means not that much sun. And we need that sun for the visibility in the high alpine, but it doesn’t show itself that much until Sunday. Certainly in the northwest and north where clouds are pressed against the mountains pretty much all the time. It is possible that the sun chances will increase somewhat on the southern side of the Alps on Saturday, but that is not certain. It gets better from Monday when high pressure takes over and calm weather returns. Incidentally, it immediately becomes a bit milder because the supply of cold air is stopped, but it remains cold enough to ride cold powder for a day in the high alpine on northern faces.

Where to go?

High, higher, highest. The snow remains of a very good quality on the northern slopes in the high alpine. It will be pretty good above 2500 meters. There are still ski areas open that will have (some) lifts running the next couple of days. Below you’ll find an overview of the areas where they still have some lifts open. But call them about the current status before you leave. In these areas you can ride powder on the slopes during the weekend and when the sun comes out after the weekend you can ride powder off-piste.

Switzerland

• Zermatt
• Engelberg-Titlis until 26th of May
• Andermatt - Gemsstock) up to and including 19th of May
• Glacier 3000 up to and including 5th of May
• Adelboden - Engstligenalp until 5th of May
• Sankt Moritz - Diavolezza) until 5th of May
• Samnaun up to and including 1st of May

France

• Tignes up to and including 5th of May
• Val Thorens until 5th of May
• Chamonix Mont Blanc until 5th of May
• Val d’Isère up to and including 1st of May

Italy

• Ponte di Legno - Tonale until 5th of May
• Schnalstal (Val Senales) until 5th of May
• Breuil-Cervinia up to and including 5th of May
• Sulden am Ortler until 5th of May
• Livigno up to and including 1st of May
• Cortina d’Ampezzo up to and including 1st of May
• Monte Rosa (check the opening times here)

Austria

• Hintertuxer Glacier
• Stubaier Glacier up to and including 10th of June
• Kitzsteinhorn Kaprun up to and including 2nd of June
• Kaunertaler Glacier up to and including 12th of May
• Mölltaler Glacier up to and including 12th of May
• Pitztal Glacier up to and including 5th of May
• Sölden up to and including 5th of May
• Ischgl up to and including 1st of May
• Obertauern up to and including 1st of May

A last time lift assisted powder this season? It’s possible! And this might just be the last PowderAlert of the season. Enjoy!

Stay stoked,
Morris