 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi
Looking at the snowforecasts that are starting to come out for Arinsal march 5th they are predicting snow at the base level of 1940m but the freezing level seems to rise to 2330/2400m and temps of upto max 4 C. Wouldnt that mean rain more than snow at 1940m?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Garethb wrote: |
Hi
Looking at the snowforecasts that are starting to come out for Arinsal march 5th they are predicting snow at the base level of 1940m but the freezing level seems to rise to 2330/2400m and temps of upto max 4 C. Wouldnt that mean rain more than snow at 1940m? |
It's because the snow level is less than (usually about 500 feet) the freezing level. Snow can still fall at temperatures that are above 0c because of other factors such as dew points and wet bulb levels. I usually ignore the freezing level and look for the "snow line" level.
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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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Pretty hideous runs this morning with regard to early march with temperatures 7 or 8 degrees above average. 
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Inevitable that the entire season isn't below average, I suppose. There are bound to be some warmer spells. Let's hope it's reasonably dry, and that the freezing levels drop again later in the month.
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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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TheArchitect, pretty typical as spring arrives and the sun gets higher in the sky and hence stronger.....from memory we always have a 'warmer than average' spell which gets folk panicking about Easter skiing......however in 13 years of skiing Easter I've never had to go mountain biking!!
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| kitenski wrote: |
| TheArchitect, pretty typical as spring arrives and the sun gets higher in the sky and hence stronger.....from memory we always have a 'warmer than average' spell which gets folk panicking about Easter skiing......however in 13 years of skiing Easter I've never had to go mountain biking!! |
Just typical after this years great snow so far that I am going 3-10th March - just hoping it wont be too slushy in the afternoon
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I echo these thoughts. Cracking season and then rain and heat 9-16 March, PdS 
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Garethb, mr_merc,
It's weeks away, unless you have a crystal ball chill out!! There's nothing you can do about it anyhow!! You'll have snow and a good holiday won't you, regardless of whether it's warm and sunny or cold and snowy??? You don't often get long periods of rain in March.......
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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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any hints on how the snow will be in Megéve next week? (I mean, in terms of quality)
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Shoogly and Kitenski; yeah, I suppose you are right. I would just like, for one year, to have some powder to board on rather than slush.
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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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mr_merc, you still could have... Your Trip is weeks away....
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your right Kitenski, the latest forecasts now show the temp as 4 C max, so its not too bad - soft snow but not slush! At least theres loads of snow and a great base. Havent seen the full forecast for wednesday - although they are suggesting a decent amount of precipitation at least most if not all of it should come down as snow, may not be fluffy powder but still fun!!!
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You know it makes sense.
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| Quote: |
I would just like, for one year, to have some powder to board on rather than slush.
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in my very limited experience it's better to board on slush than on rock hard pack. If a bit wetter.
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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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Ah well, I will pack the spring wax and give hope it doesn't get too warm. If there is a silver lining, it's that it looks like precipitation 9-13 March, so hopefully that will fall as snow higher up in PdS.
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Poster: A snowHead
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We don't always have a warmer than average spell at the same time each year, otherwise this would change what the average temperature for that time of year was.
We do always have a period where temperatures start to warm and that's called spring.
There should be some great sunny weather in the Alps in the next week.
It looks more unsettled from around 08 March with fresh snow above 1800m.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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mr_merc, Im with you, heres hoping for powder that week!
I always think its funny, you can definitely tell the guys who get one or two weeks a season in compared to the ones who have many weeks/full season! If your there all season it's easy to say don't worry about it, it'll be nice at least if it's sunny, or point out that there's plenty of snow, al of which are very valid points!
However, for those of us who haven't had the joys of powder for over a year, we are just dying for it to snow!
So for the week starting the 10th, I don't mind warm or cold, but please please snow in la rosiere!!! (And PDS for you!)
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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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SkiG, no matter if you only have one day's skiing every 5 years - it remains the case that worrying (especially weeks in advance) about it is a complete and utter waste of time. Worse than a waste of time if it makes you miserable. If worrying made a difference it might be worth while!
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pam w, the voice of reason - you're absolutely right 
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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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| Garethb wrote: |
| your right Kitenski, the latest forecasts now show the temp as 4 C max, so its not too bad - soft snow but not slush! At least theres loads of snow and a great base. Havent seen the full forecast for wednesday - although they are suggesting a decent amount of precipitation at least most if not all of it should come down as snow, may not be fluffy powder but still fun!!! |
No idea what forecasts you are looking at, but +4 at 1000m and rain =snow not that much higher up......
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| nozawaonsen wrote: |
We don't always have a warmer than average spell at the same time each year, otherwise this would change what the average temperature for that time of year was.
We do always have a period where temperatures start to warm and that's called spring.
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I am obviously crap at expressing myself, but my point is the warmer than average spell is usually followed by a return to average or below average spell. which means the 'average' evens out.
Examples, same resort, Stuben, same time of year, 1st week of April
2 years ago approx +20 when arriving in resort, green fields in Stuben snowed that week preceded by rain, down to about -5 up top, bare earth off piste after huge March warm spell
last season, 15 ft drifts and snow everywhere ,temps down to -15 up high. Off piste fantastic after not so drastic mild spell in March
cheers,
Greg
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Fairly strong support (albeit in far FI) for some cooler weather from around 12 March in tgis morning's 00z GFS, interesting to see if that is still there by this evening.
More generally as we enter spring and temperatures start to rise the impact of weather swinging above and below average can have bigger impacts particularly lower down. A warm spell in spring can quickly reduce low lying snow (which at lower altitudes will be thinner anyway) allowing grass to show through, conversely a colder spell can still bring substantial snow even to low levels. The net impact is that the natural variation can appear exaggerated.
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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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Thanks Noza. Maybe fresh is on for 9-16 after all 
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| kitenski wrote: |
| Garethb wrote: |
| your right Kitenski, the latest forecasts now show the temp as 4 C max, so its not too bad - soft snow but not slush! At least theres loads of snow and a great base. Havent seen the full forecast for wednesday - although they are suggesting a decent amount of precipitation at least most if not all of it should come down as snow, may not be fluffy powder but still fun!!! |
No idea what forecasts you are looking at, but +4 at 1000m and rain =snow not that much higher up...... |
the 4c temps are at 1940m - its the forecast for next week at vallnord (arinsal/pal/arcalis). the temps may peak at 6c, but im not stressing about it, at least there is snow!!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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It all looks pretty good from the 12th but still a long way off tho, I don't think the mild spell will be that mild and hopefully will bring some snowfall to higher elevations.
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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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So, i normally have 3 or 4 trips per year, this year just the one to the 3 valleys on 10th March. I have been reading this thread since it began months ago.....please keep me posted on the forecast...only 10 more sleeps and i am desperate for some "fun" conditions!
thanks
mr ted
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Just tuned into this thread for first tim in around a week. My God! What is all this panic and pessimism about? Snow is epic! Its still gonna be there in April! If you are averse to slush, simply don't ski in March. It might be getting milder but all forecasts I have checked indicate still pretty cool temps, a lot less than this time last 2 years ( and less even then a week in Jan of this year, although of course sun wouldn't be so strong then). There was fantastic skiing at end of March in Les Arcs last year and I am sure this year will be even better.
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You know it makes sense.
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NOt much change in the overnight runs. Temperatures starting to rise in the next few days but they don't look excessively high. The above average temperatures look to continue until about the 11th March and should then start cooling off. Looks to be plenty of precipitation around for France, Switzerland and Italy starting around the 5th as low pressure near the UK starts pushing weather systems towards the Alps. Probably a bit too early to know how high the snow line will be at this stage but I suspect it will be fairly high
I would also be wary of actual temperature forecasts for a week or more away. A few days ago the forecast for the Eastern Alps was around 10c or 11c at 850metres for early next week. Today the same forecast says 6c for the same period. Thats quite a drop and the charts still show near enough the same weather patterns.
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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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Can someone post some wigglies for the espace killy area into end of next week?
Muchos gracias.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| patricksh wrote: |
| Just tuned into this thread for first tim in around a week. My God! What is all this panic and pessimism about? Snow is epic! Its still gonna be there in April! If you are averse to slush, simply don't ski in March. It might be getting milder but all forecasts I have checked indicate still pretty cool temps, a lot less than this time last 2 years ( and less even then a week in Jan of this year, although of course sun wouldn't be so strong then). There was fantastic skiing at end of March in Les Arcs last year and I am sure this year will be even better. |
I dont mind having to ski in slush in the afternoons can be fun(would obviously prefer firmer snow) - its more the possibility of light rain on the mountain that some of the forecast sites are suggesting tues/wed/thurs = hoping its more sleet than rain! Or it cools slightly and I can keep up higher on the mountain when it does start to come down. So fingers crossed. Going out 3-10t March (Vallnord)
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cran
cran
Guest
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| patricksh wrote: |
| Just tuned into this thread for first tim in around a week. My God! What is all this panic and pessimism about? Snow is epic! Its still gonna be there in April! If you are averse to slush, simply don't ski in March. It might be getting milder but all forecasts I have checked indicate still pretty cool temps, a lot less than this time last 2 years ( and less even then a week in Jan of this year, although of course sun wouldn't be so strong then). There was fantastic skiing at end of March in Les Arcs last year and I am sure this year will be even better. |
Snow that is 'still there' is not the same as fresh snow...
It's half term for the next two weeks so not too bothered until the 17th, but would be nice to get a few powder days after that 
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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.
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kitenski, merci!
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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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| cran wrote: |
| patricksh wrote: |
| Just tuned into this thread for first tim in around a week. My God! What is all this panic and pessimism about? Snow is epic! Its still gonna be there in April! If you are averse to slush, simply don't ski in March. It might be getting milder but all forecasts I have checked indicate still pretty cool temps, a lot less than this time last 2 years ( and less even then a week in Jan of this year, although of course sun wouldn't be so strong then). There was fantastic skiing at end of March in Les Arcs last year and I am sure this year will be even better. |
Snow that is 'still there' is not the same as fresh snow...
It's half term for the next two weeks so not too bothered until the 17th, but would be nice to get a few powder days after that |
Of course you are right. But for the fresh snow you want, the only snowfall that matters is that which happens within 2 days of your arrival or during your stay. If it dumped all week next week that fresh snow will be tracked and packed long before you get there. That there is so much snow there now means that worst case scenario, the pisteurs can make the pistes good for the morning, and there'll be good coverage off-piste. So no point worrying about next week if you're not going until 2 or 3 !
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i have been looking at the wigglies for 3 vallees/ la tania. i arrive on the 10th and it looks like it is going to be warm and wet to my untrained eye?? Am i reading it right or is it still too far out?
thanks
Mr Ted
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mr ted, it's too far out to have much confidence that what you see now is what you're going to get. Fortunately. 
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thanks Pam, i am going to go and bury my head in the sand and look again on Friday.......do you think i will manage it?
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mr ted, I don't suppose so. The GFS is the first thing I look at when I boot up my computer - and I'm not out till 15 March.  It's just the morning habit; cup of tea and GFS.
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Well, I am 2 weeks away from Les gets so starting to look at this thread. I had great powder in January in Flaine on the snowboard so this time round it will on the sticks with the kids so sunshine is required. The pistes look fine so no problem there, my wife hates being cold and a nice warm ski holiday keeps her sweet and allows us to go next year 
Went to peisey in March last year and it was literally t shirts and an unzipped fleece for the whole week and still sweated buckets. Same again this year please, as long as the missus doesn't get cold she will agree to go again next year.
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FAQ
