We are all anxiously following the weather reports. After the heavy rainfall and record warm turn of the year, conditions could be better. That mostly means green valleys and narrower slopes. In most ski resorts, better skiing conditions are found at higher altitudes. Will that change soon? It seems likelier by the day. A slight sugar coating of snow may fall on the north side tomorrow, but hopes lie mainly on the weekend. In this Alpine weather report, we will update you.
The day started foggy in several valleys today. Especially towards the south, the fog fields are persistent. Towards noon, most fog will clear, and there will be room for sunshine. A moderate westerly to northwesterly wind is blowing. By late afternoon, the clouds become denser from the northwest, and the first precipitation may fall on the northern side of the Alps. At altitude, the westerly wind slowly increases in strength.
Stormy and unsettled mountain weather is forecast for tomorrow in Austria. According to the Austrian weather service ZAMG, short sunny periods alternate with overcast skies. Some showers will fall on the northern side of the Alpine divide, and the snowline will be between 1600 and 2200 metres altitude. In terms of snow, 5 to 20 cm is forecast. The same goes for Switzerland, but here the snowline is higher, between 1800 and 2200 metres altitude. Strong westerly winds are still blowing on the mountain peaks, and wind gusts of up to 100 km/h are possible. In Switzerland, too, it can also blow hard on the peaks, but the wind decreases in strength during the day.
And then the weekend. The weather maps have been showing fresh snow for the Western Alps for a few days, but forecasts and amounts change daily. What is certain is that the weekend will be a lot more changeable. A westerly current will bring all kinds of disturbances that may bring a lot of snow in Switzerland and France on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Moreover, the weather gets a bit colder, and the snowline will be between 1000 and 1500 metres altitude. Locally, up to half a metre of snow may fall. Western Italy, German Bavaria and the Austrian states of Vorarlberg and Tyrol also seem to benefit from the snowfall. With lesser amounts, though, up to 20 to 30 centimetres.
I grew up in Slovenia, close to the Julian Alps. Early on, my parents put me on skis and skates, and the winter sports enthusiasm hasn't left me since. I also enjoy cross-country skiing and have been a keen snowboarder for the past 20 years.
