סקירת מזג אויר ומצב השלג באלפים

Last weeks Alpine weather forecast was an accurate one – the weather was settled and decidedly springlike before a cold NW wind delivered much needed snow to parts of Switzerland, Austria and Germany on Wednesday. On average, 10 or 20 cm of snow fell at about 3000 m – just about deep enough to bury the slush and ice that had developed in previous days. Prior to the new snow, off-piste conditions were dire and the pistes were not much better. It was more like April than January. Significant fresh snow did not reach the French or Italian Alps. At least Italy escaped the early week high temperatures that caused a thaw at most resorts elsewhere. The good news is that much lower temperatures have allowed snow-making to resume across the Alps. In any case, the forecast is for much more general snow, especially on Friday night and again on Monday. The storm system responsible for Fridays snow is a very intense one, but it is located far to the north of the Alps over Norway. As a result, the heaviest snowfalls will affect places like the Vosges, Jura and Massif Central, Germany, as well as parts of the British Isles and of course Scandinavia. Northern parts of the Alps should see their heaviest snow on Friday night, but on Monday more southern resorts in France and Italy should be favored by the next system. Around mid to late week, an anticyclone once again looks like it will bring sunny days to the Alps. Do not be surprised if 2008 sees and early spring in western Europe.