Forecast
After the fresh snow and stormy weather of the past few days, we take stock and look ahead: the big Christmas gift is on its way. In this update from Henri’s #PA2 on 19-12, we check: The current situation in the Alps Details about the pre-Christmas dump with 50-100 cm on a large scale When will it become calm and safer again?
Both major weather models (GFS and ECMWF) now agree: the Alps can look forward to an unsettled and snowy run-up to Christmas. Especially the nordstau on Sunday and Monday will certainly be worth a Powder Alert.
A significant amount of snow is coming just before Christmas, with PA#2 approaching, but the snow line remains a point of concern. However, the latest model calculations seem much more positive.
As a high-pressure system approaches from the west, the Alps will experience a brief period of dry and warmer weather. However, before it clears up everywhere, the northern side of the Alps will still see some leftover snow showers due to a northerly wind today.
After a beautiful week with snow and then sun, the weather is becoming more changeable in the Alps. Today brings some snow in the French Alps and Sunday it’s Austria’s turn. We are also looking ahead to the Christmas period.
We begin this forecast with a beautiful cam shot taken at sunrise this morning from the Faulhorn near Grindelwald. At the same time, the nearby Sägistalsee (a well-known Swiss cold spot at 1937m) recorded -24 degrees.
After a weekend of snowfall, the Alps and Pyrenees enter calmer waters. From the north, the influence of a strong high pressure area increases. It becomes increasingly stable and snowfall is limited.
The weather models are not making it easy for us in recent days. Fluctuating model outputs from run to run mean that there is no clear picture about the upcoming snowfall. Where will most of it fall?
We can speak of a decent early season where cold periods with snow alternate with milder and dry high-pressure weather. Many regions are still waiting for a good base, and that wait might soon be rewarded.
Take a look at this snow map! A lot of snow is coming for the Northwest Alps. However, the colourful map fails to show one important ‘but’ and that is that the uncertainty about the snowfall (both quantities and distribution) for the weekend is still quite high.