2020: May the powder be with you!

By meteomorris on 31 December 2019 · 9

Since the weekend of December 29, the Alps have been under the influence of high pressure. This means a lot of sunshine. Due to the holiday crowds, most of the powder right next to the slopes has been tracked. Luckily the snowpack had some time to settle in recent days and the avalanche risk in large parts of the Alps is no higher than 2 on a scale of 5, or in words: a moderate avalanche danger. Sunny weather and moderate avalanche danger means ideal conditions to go deeper into the backcountry and to ride somewhat steeper lines. Stick your skins under your skis or split board and earn your own turns. The ideal start to 2020. In this article:

• high pressure dominant
• battle of the models: snow this weekend?

High pressure dominant

It's been sunny in the Alps for a few days. Due to inversion, clouds can get stuck in the valleys and where the sun has no influence it is cold and chilly. But once higher on the mountain or in the valleys where the sun can come, it is sunny and really mild for the time of the year. It is that the angle of the sun is so low, but otherwise you would think it is late February-early March. The low position of the sun ensures that its influence is limited and that there is still enough untracked and cold powder to be found in the backcountry. Ideal conditions for a nice tour and earn your turns. How beautiful that is on skis shows this video, for the boarders: check this video.

Until Friday it will be wonderful to go out for a nice tour. Nothing better to sweat out the slightly too much champagne and then to make a few delicious turns in cold smoke powder. The best way to descend is via east, north or west slopes. The sun has little effect on these exposittions (at this time of the year) and you will certainly find untrackedpowder there. Enjoy!

Battle of the models: snow this weekend?

Our own model, just like some other models, is in favor of snow coming in this weekend at the Northern Alps, but I am not sure yet. So better hold your horses. It's not the time yet to start waxing, rescheduling appointments and looking for a spot. Just wait quietly. I will post a short update to this post tomorrow and keep you up to date in the coming days.

Although it is not yet 2020, I wish you all the best. That the powder may be with you and that you may find some beautiful lines.

See you in 2020, Morris

Comments

• 
  snowhunter25 op 31 December 2019 · 21:23

  Thanks for the updates Morris! Looking forward to some turns in Champloc and Monterosa in a few weeks time! In the meantime keep up the great work and a Happy New Year to you and the team!
• 
  wlf op 31 December 2019 · 21:52

  It's amazing that even today it's not hard to find untracked or barely tracked powder in the three valleys, in some case right under the lifts. Very few people riding off piste and overall it was super busy yesterday morning but relatively quiet otherwise.
  *message edited by wlf op 31 Dec 2019 21:58 (4% bewerkt)
• 

  Expert
  meteomorris op 1 January 2020 · 11:08

  There is an alert for Sunday for the following resorts: Kleinwalsertal, Arlberg, Fieberbrunn, Kitz, Tauplitz, Planneralm.

  May the powder be with you.
• 
  Ilajtos op 1 January 2020 · 14:40

  Hello Morris,
  
  for Tauplitz and Planneralm there is like 20cm fresh snow in most models, but as i've seen with strong northern winds.
  Do you send allert for these resorts, because of possible larger accumulations due to stau effect?
• 

  Expert
  Skeeze op 2 January 2020 · 07:20

  Looks like this later weather run has more snow for the East (Fieberbrunn, Bad Gastein, Obertauern) than the Arlberg. Do you think that difference will hold up, and what is the current base of snow like for freeriding at those places further to the East?
• 
  Ilajtos op 2 January 2020 · 08:28

  Hello Skeeze,
  to check snow depths i use Lawis station datas,
  which can give quite good view for the different regions of austria:
  http://www.lawine-steiermark.at/aktuelles/ereignisse-lawis...
  I was last weekend even more east in Tauplitz,
  and snow up from alm was alrealy good and deep.
• 

  Expert
  meteomorris op 2 January 2020 · 09:30

  @Skeeze @llatjos with high pressure near the Alps it is always uncertain what kind of amounts to expect. Wind will be a problem for sure. I will give my final call on Friday.

  May the powder be with you.
• 
  Ilajtos op 2 January 2020 · 09:53

  Hello Morris,
  thanks for reply. Ok, i'll check your updates later this week.
• 
  Daniel Burger op 2 January 2020 · 13:15

  https://www.zamg.ac.at/cms/de/wetter/produkte-und-services/bergwetter/...
  
  It's in German language. Mountain weather isn't available in English language. You can translate by Google translater.....
  Greetings Daniel

Reply