 Poster: A snowHead
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Anyone know what the visibility in Avoriaz is like? Currently cooped up in the chalet in Morzine. Absolutely chucking it down with rain outside. Doesn't look like mush skiing today 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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From the webcams it looks like snow in the goat village and rain lower down so I guess the rain/snow limit is around 1400m (-ish, as you say, Chatel Snow)
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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davidbevan10, looks to be chucking down snow in Lindarets, snow in Morzine trees looks around 1,200. Probably absolutely excellent higher up.
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I was up for 1/2 an hour this morning. Rain/Snow limit in LG was (I think) around 1600m Was quite fun even if the snow was a bit sticky. In Morzine now and it's whizzing down with rain and feels very mild.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| DJL wrote: |
| From the webcams it looks like snow in the goat village and rain lower down so I guess the rain/snow limit is around 1400m (-ish, as you say, Chatel Snow) |
Dropped some friends off at Barbossine at 10.30 and wet snow was falling but now back to sleet still below about 1500m by the looks of it.
Its chucking it down so should be a lot of snow already above 1600m.
Heading up this afternoon.
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Avoriaz: strong winds, snowing since 8:30 and still going on strong. Visibility low, was even worse before. Very few people on the slopes, most of the brave souls who ventured out in the morning are already back in the hotel.
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Raining hard here in Morzine too. Wet snow and strong winds at the top of the Charniaz.
Afternoon in the village I think! 
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Gale force winds in Avoriaz at the mo. Very unpleasant conditions and a lot of lifts are shut.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Raining hard in Ardent and wet snow at Lindarets. Runs towards Chatel closed because of the wind. Saw someone blown backwards up the top of Chaucer Fleurie. Not pleasant.
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Still heavy rain and sleet at 1200m - friend says snow/rain line is about 1600m.
About to head in to the blizzard higher up - so time to break out the new jkt that I have been saving all season for just such an occasion - hope its waterproof as its a long double chair up to where the powder lies!!!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Chatel Snow, When it's rainy in the village I always use the Linga gondola to access the Pre La Joux sector and the Super Chatel bubble for that area or Barbossine - that way you are still dryish at mid-mountain where it should be snowing. If still raining at the top of the bubble go to the bar!
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| DJL wrote: |
| Chatel Snow, When it's rainy in the village I always use the Linga gondola to access the Pre La Joux sector and the Super Chatel bubble for that area or Barbossine - that way you are still dryish at mid-mountain where it should be snowing. If still raining at the top of the bubble go to the bar! |
Yep = good move.
I'm heading to a specific spot above your place - so prepared for a bit of rain on the way up!!!
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Thunder in Morzine. Not a bad day to have to work...
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You know it makes sense.
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Attempt to get up mtn aborted - lift closed at 1300m with gale force squalls, lightning, horizontal & driving wet snow - extreme weather for this altitude. At least the snow/rain limit is coming down! Super Chatel telecabine now closed too.
Photo from a few mins ago (chairs swinging crazily)
http://t.co/VLlxUdiAhs
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Most chairs and telecabines closed here at the moment.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Much the same in LG Village. Snow up at Chavannes. Snow being blown into drifts on exposed slopes. Started with great runs but by lunchtime everything was sticky. A day for the pub I think.....
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Flakes mixed in with the rain now at 1200m in Chatel and conditions have eased a little - though many lifts still shut. Temp 2C - and snow/rain line gradually heading this way.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Plus 2 degrees in Les Gets village - Mont Chery bubble and Chavanne chairs closed - although wind has now died leaving light drizzle. Drags still running and ski schools making the most of them.
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No more rain in Morzine now. Snowline starts about 3/4 of the way up Pleney.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Snowing again in Ardent. Got up the bubble at about 2 when it briefly reopened, but nothing other than the ski school tow was open. Howling wind and lightning put paid to the afternoon's skiing. Fingers crossed it's better tomorrow.
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We managed to get up the Plenry around 11am and down into the troncs/charnaiz bowl. Very wet snow down there so popped inside for a pint to see if it cleared. No such luck so headed up the Charnaiz express, down to Nauchets and back up to stop for lunch in the restaurant by the lift. Weather turned really nasty with a lot of propel staying inside for shelter (good job they had plenty of beer ). Once we left all lifts we're shut with every poor visibility and strong winds. We had to head to les gets village and get 2 buses back to Morzine. Weather down here has cleared and hoping for a better last day tomorrow!!
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Thunderstorm in progress over Chatel at the moment!!!
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Were the conditions so very unusual and extreme?
Here in Geneva we have a "3" orange weather alert of high winds and storms (yep, that's about right) but everything within seasonal "norms" (yep, that's about right too). Forecast winds down here a mere 90-110 kph ("full gale") so I'd generally expect things to be a little livelier up the hill.
Nothing like the definitely extreme 180kph winds of April 2012 though, I guess everyone still has the roof on?
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Chatel Snow, you're getting what's left of ours. More on the way I believe...
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| under a new name wrote: |
| Chatel Snow, you're getting what's left of ours. More on the way I believe... |
Looking like this one has passed us by - still some showers possible, but at resort altitude I'm not expecting much more than the 1cm of fresh that we have received this evening.
Useful snow up the hill, but all that wind today and tonight will make it an interesting morning up there tomorrow.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Big thunderstorm this evening in LG with hail at village level around 18:30.
All after calming down now. Had a walk across the base of the pistes after dinner. I reckon 2" of fresh snow 
Hopefully it has blown itself out and we'll reap the benefits tomorrow.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Light snow has been falling above 1400m in Chatel this morning. Some great fresh tracks to be had, especially on the lee slopes - superb, even with rather flat light. The area we were in was deserted!
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Chatel Snow, has the wind died down now? We are skiing from Morillon GM tomoz. I know not in your ski area but you're the next closest so I always keep tabs on your reports as the GM thread is pretty quiet. Thanks
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You know it makes sense.
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Links from Swiss side to French shut this morning. High winds and light snow fall.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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| summer wrote: |
| Links from Swiss side to French shut this morning. High winds and light snow fall. |
It was quite windy at times this afternoon at the top of Barbossine and very mild - piste to Torgon and lift back was closed. It is expected to be very windy tomorrow - according to Meteo france and mild with rain pm turning to snow later in the day / evening.
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Poster: A snowHead
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The wind didn't make it to the Les Gets side of the range but the rain did. A mix of light rain and snow flurries through out the morning. Cleared up around 2pm. Slopes were quite and some great runs! Heading home tomorrow but I'll try to send a report from the airport.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Moderate snow in Lindarets this morning, then drizzle later. Windy up above Avoriaz but not too bad lower down. Very mild though, saw 6 degrees on a piste board this afternoon. Spring-like snow, but nice and quiet last thing.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Nice photos above!
Here are our latest thoughts on tonights / tomorrows snowfall...
Chatel Snow Forecast Update 15/02/2014: 10.05am
It is cloudy and very mild here in Chatel this morning with a fohn wind blowing, however, snow is still on the way for this evening / tonight and tomorrow. The latest info suggests snow arriving this evening, falling as snow above mid mountain, but falling as rain for a period at the resort altitude of 1200m. More than 30cm of snow looks possible above 1600/1800m, with perhaps a range of possibilities between 20 to 40cm. The high res Euro4 model is suggesting the chance of more than 30cm, so unless it downgrades on its next update this afternoon, then things are looking good. As for the lower mountain and the resort itself, amounts of snow will depend on how quickly the snow/rain limit falls, however, between 10cm and 20cm of snow looks possible at 1200m.
One thing to note for this snow event is that the Euro4 is showing more precipitation for this area than the amounts suggested on the locally used Chamonix valley forecast, so it will again be a useful test of the usefulness of this Met Office model, that has only recently been made publically available.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Chatel Snow, and all those on the spot: a request.
My brother is travelling out to our apartment today. He is flying to Strasbourg on a late flight (22.00) arrival and hiring a car which he doubts will have winter tyres. Then driving down with ETA 02.00. Sounds daft but with 4 of them it saves around £800 on Geneva flights.
He will follow the Basel, Bern, Vevey Monthey route but is a bit concerned about the state of the pass if the snow comes in tonight. Looking at Meteo Chamonix, Meteo Suisse and the very useful analysis from Chatel Snow I reckon that a fair depth at 1450m is possible and hitting it at 02.00 is probably the worst time in terms of ploughing etc. When he gets to the E end of Lake Geneva he has to make a call: over the Pas de Morgins or along the S side of the lake to Evian, Thonon and up the valley. I'm confident that there will be no trouble on the latter route until at least Abondance (900m) but then it is down to the snow gods and the fickle rain snow limits.
Forecasts (amateur, professional or by the ache in the arthritic shoulder) welcome but what would be really helpful would be an on the spot report from someone late this evening (pub kicking out time would be ideal) and the Gold medal would go to anyone coming over the pass late on.
Thanks in advance.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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DJL,
I'm normally an early to bed / early to rise - but should be up later tonight as friends staying tonight. Do u have whats app on your phone?
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Chatel Snow, Don't even know what it is! And my phone is a fairly ancient company issue Blackberry so fairly useless.
Quick note on here would work though.
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| DJL wrote: |
Chatel Snow, Don't even know what it is! And my phone is a fairly ancient company issue Blackberry so fairly useless.
Quick note on here would work though. |
No probs - will see how long I can keep my eyes open after a few glasses of red!
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Very very mild here in Chatel with temps above 10C and water pouring off our roof. Fortunately it is dry and the snow is coming tonight!!!
Not done it for a while - but been looking at those automated sites this afternoon that appear to be popular - J2ski suggest 10cm upper mountain for this snowfall and 2cm in village and snow forecast.com have 11cm at 1700m and 7cm at 1200m. As they are presumably both based on the same American GFS data its odd that they are showing different amounts. They also are showing a good deal less precipitation for the Chatel area than the Met Office Euro4, Meteo Suisse and Meteo France forecasts - that all use European model data (as far as I am aware)
This potential snowfall is therefore a GFS versus the combined European forces of the Met Office / Meteo France and Meteo Suisse.
I'd be amazed if the GFS forecasts are right on this one, but a forecast is not right or wrong until it has verified - so another interesting test of forecasts is on the way!
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Very wet up in Avoriaz too. The balcony was deep in drifted snow on Thursday night when I arrived, and it's almost bone dry now. Very mild this morning, although the temperature has dropped and I can see some dark clouds on their way in.
It does look like the mild temps appear to have helped consolidate some of the snow that fell earlier this week, so hopefully a re-freeze and some fresh snow should bring some quite nice conditions.
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