 Poster: A snowHead
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It’ll be fine, we now have more snow on balcony at 1250m than we did before the rain. 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Ozboy, and we have substantially more in our garden in Morzine, though not expecting to see much by 14/12 when we go back.
Tho remember it was super snowy in mid December last year before the deluge that ruined Christmas!
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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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@ozboy Can we have some pictures?
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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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@andy from embsay, don't tempt it!!
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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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Taken just now
@andy from embsay, That was an exceptional event to receive over 100mm of rain in a day. It even took out a chairlift.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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The Braitaz webcam gives you an idea of the snow depth. If you scroll to the right you can see the Aiguillette restaurant.
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@Ozboy, I assume Gabelou’s been fixed for this season? Although even with reduced capacity it never seemed to get too busy last year.
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@andy from embsay, Yes its fixed - it was fine other than feb 1/2 term where it was faster to catch the replacement shuttles. The situation was handled very well by Châtel.
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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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@Ozboy, smashing. Looking forward to a cheeky circuit to try out the new gondola in Morgins.
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Our “Sexpond Snowgauge” in Morzine is showing about 10cm now. Not sure whether it’ll survive next week in the village as things look to be getting warmer, but signs are good for pre-xmas trip a week Thursday.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| andy from embsay wrote: |
| Our “Sexpond Snowgauge” in Morzine is showing about 10cm now. Not sure whether it’ll survive next week in the village as things look to be getting warmer, but signs are good for pre-xmas trip a week Thursday. |
Sexpond 
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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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Snow making ahead of more snow falls this week. Artificial snow helps create a more robust base. This is at the bottom on Pre La Joux at around 1300m
https://fb.watch/oI1UNUHpPP/
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| Quote: |
andy from embsay wrote:
Our “Sexpond Snowgauge” in Morzine is showing about 10cm now. Not sure whether it’ll survive next week in the village as things look to be getting warmer, but signs are good for pre-xmas trip a week Thursday.
Sexpond
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Hence the camera? 
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You know it makes sense.
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@MHskier -
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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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Any reports from the (early) opening weekend of Avoriaz?
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Roscoe wrote: |
| Any reports from the (early) opening weekend of Avoriaz? |
The road up to Prodains looked horrid on Saturday as there were no buses, but some mates had a couple of good days (Sunday better) up there.
One of the chalet companies was saying on FB that it’s “the best early season conditions for years” - which is slightly inaccurate as there was similar amounts (if not more) snow in early December 21 and 22 - it’s just that last year it all got washed away! Photo is 11 December 2022 coming down Crêt from Avoriaz
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I do not like the look of the forecast for the region for next week!! Anyone (@Polo) know any more info? I know a lot can change in a week but that rain doesn't look good.
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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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@Roscoe, it doesn’t, but from what I can see the heavy spell is relatively short lived (Sunday into Monday) then a cooling down midweek.
I actually read most of last year’s December/NY thread last night and the deluge was heavier, longer and importantly followed by a long warm spell. I don’t think it’ll be disastrous, not above 1800m or so anyway.
And remember - there was ample good skiing last season, even after the awful xmas deluge.
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Here’s Meteoblue’s latest 14 day forecast - heavy rain Sunday but 4º (so maybe snow up top?) not the 10º of last year, and then the precip drops off significantly as it cools down. And check the predictability %s - still pretty uncertain so could get better or worse!
Whatever happens there will be skiing, and it will be fun (unless you’re in it on Sunday, in which case maybe not fun).
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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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| andy from embsay wrote: |
@Roscoe, it doesn’t, but from what I can see the heavy spell is relatively short lived (Sunday into Monday) then a cooling down midweek.
I actually read most of last year’s December/NY thread last night and the deluge was heavier, longer and importantly followed by a long warm spell. I don’t think it’ll be disastrous, not above 1800m or so anyway.
And remember - there was ample good skiing last season, even after the awful xmas deluge. |
Fingers crossed that it’s only a one off and the colder weather forecast for later next week comes. I’m out in Avoriaz for a weekend from next Thursday so just having a panic. I’ll be in Val Thorens feb half term but hope to get back out to the PDS in March for another long weekend.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Roscoe, we arrive evening of 14/12 and tbh I’m not expecting a disaster zone - it’ll be a bit bare lower down (and if I’m honest I quite like clear roads in the village - we’ve just bought some electric pub-scooters and suspect they’re a bit poo in snow!), but we had an awesome time in Lindarets and PlJ areas last January, after the awfulness, and I don’t think it’ll be anywhere near as bad this time. (Crosses everything…).
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| Roscoe wrote: |
| andy from embsay wrote: |
@Roscoe, it doesn’t, but from what I can see the heavy spell is relatively short lived (Sunday into Monday) then a cooling down midweek.
I actually read most of last year’s December/NY thread last night and the deluge was heavier, longer and importantly followed by a long warm spell. I don’t think it’ll be disastrous, not above 1800m or so anyway.
And remember - there was ample good skiing last season, even after the awful xmas deluge. |
Fingers crossed that it’s only a one off and the colder weather forecast for later next week comes. I’m out in Avoriaz for a weekend from next Thursday so just having a panic. I’ll be in Val Thorens feb half term but hope to get back out to the PDS in March for another long weekend. |
Let me put your mind at rest … we were in Avoriaz (we were staying in Les Gets) for a 4 day break in early January this year (before the mid-January dump that “transformed” what could have been a disastrous season). The snow was good and coverage excellent all the way down to the Ardent bubble. It was even better over at Plaine Dranse / PLJ. We had a superb time.
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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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Us too @franga - we arrived (I think) on 5 jan, which was when things were about as bad as they got (Proclou a thin white stripe, the flat blue/green run back down to Lindarets from Brochaux with walking sections) and once the Dutch had gone home (one day of busy pistes) we had a brilliant time.
If you want some optimism, @Roscoe, have a look at Wepowder - not sure which model he uses but he only has the FL going above Avoriaz for about 24hrs and hardly any rain!
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I suppose that's the thing with forecasts. They are educated guess' but guess none the least. I'm sure we'll have a fantastic time whatever the weather or snow conditions! Just being in the mountains is good enough!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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The cannons are blasting at the snow front in Les Gets this morning - does the lift company know something we don't?
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@franga, they’ll be making “concrete”
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You know it makes sense.
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@Randyp909, I think the difference this time is the rain quantities are likely to be a bit less (50-60mm over 2 days), and temps rapidly drop to seasonal norm immediately after - last year there was 100mm in a day, taking out a chairlift pylon, but then a long warm spell that did more damage. I don’t think there was any more snow until mid-Jan, whereas it may well be snowing again on Thursday next week.
Having said that, we had a great time in the first week of Jan.
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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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| franga wrote: |
| The cannons are blasting at the snow front in Les Gets this morning - does the lift company know something we don't? |
Yes I would hope that the lift company generally know a lot more than we do about weather and its impact than is keyboard warriors.
There seems to be an elevated level of worry after last year’s Christmas deluge - which is understandable. It is normal for it to rain at this time of year and at the start or storms during winter to around 1800m. My concern will be if we start developing an ongoing pattern of tropical weather in February.
The snow canons are currently working overdrive. There are a few things at stake this year beyond ensuring holiday makers are not disappointed. PDS is hosting Junior Alpine World Championships in January which adds to the incentive of making the most of what they can control. The big prize leading from this will be to host some events in the 2030 Winter Olympics for which the city of Nice is the front runner to host with the plan to spread the events across the French Alps to use existing world class infrastructure to reduce costs and impact on environment. David Lappartient, who resides in Chatel and current UCI (world cycling federation)president, is leading the French Olympic bid. He has also brought the Snow Bike downhill world championships to Châtel this season also to run on Linga which should offer well prepared pistes.
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Poster: A snowHead
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With the exception of 2015&2016 when there was no snow and 2021 when there was tonnes, I can't remember any years where we haven't had a load of rain at some point leading up to Christmas, normally around the 22nd/23rd. It just means you have to ski up in Avoriaz, where it will be fine.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Pre-xmas Morzine bus timetable for anyone out after the rain. No buses on the official opening day of 15/12.
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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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Some ski hire shops in Avoriaz aren't taking booking until 16th (Saturday). Is this normal? Or more of a web oversite?
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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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| Roscoe wrote: |
| Some ski hire shops in Avoriaz aren't taking booking until 16th (Saturday). Is this normal? Or more of a web oversite? |
Odd - official opening is 15/12 - big ski test next weekend too.
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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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| Roscoe wrote: |
| Some ski hire shops in Avoriaz aren't taking booking until 16th (Saturday). Is this normal? Or more of a web oversite? |
They probably have not updated the date range in their system. They also has problems with busses not being available for early unplanned opening.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Ski toured up Pleney today. They have bashed loads of the pistes and have made a load of snow. The snow really is excellent for early December. There’s going to have to be a lot of rain next week for it to not open on time.
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Good news @zzz - thanks for going up to check for us!
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@andy from embsay,
Always a pleasure
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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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Morning - looks like the FL for the “rain event” has creeped down a bit further / the precipitation amounts have also been scaled back a bit. I’ll take that as a positive particularly looking at how temperatures look to be converging towards seasonal averages from next weekend. Keep the faith.
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Next weekend looks glorious @franga - wall to wall sun. So as long as the pistes hold up through Monday and Tuesday I’m looking forward to a cracking few days. Off piste’ll be grim I guess, but it’s good to see the 0º line no higher than 2300m or so.
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FAQ
