The All New 15/16 Weather Outlook Thread

A snowHead

Just back from 2 days sliding, and was surprised at how well the slopes held up after the torrential downpour, must have been 100mm in 2 days. First I took pictures of the same spots at 1300m, first one on thurs, 50cm powder, second one sat, 25cm of crunch.

There was clear damage to slopes at village level (1200), large soggy patches, but overall I was amazed at how well all the rain was absorbed higher up. Had plenty of good runs through powder at 1600-1700m, although it's slower going now, and the pistes are stickier. But not bad.

Some nice shots yesterday evening as the rain stopped about 3pm, and sun popped out. Way above expectations.

A snowHead

Been following this thread over the last few weeks, thanks for all the info.

First day skiing in La Plagne today. Have to say, conditions are pretty damn good. Haven't seen any rain and it has been snowing pretty much all yesterday and some bits today. The lower areas like Montchavin and Les Coches have browny coloured slushy snow but it's still ski-able.

Forecast is for non stop snow over the next week, would have preferred a couple of days of sun to go and enjoy the upper altitudes with some visibility. No chance of that at the moment!

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

@KJT123, Welcome to snowHeads

and thanks for the info. Nothing like first-hand information from those who are there. It has always been one of the strengths of the board.

You need to Login to know who's really who.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

It's not true that everything above 1500m is in great shape. Plenty of it isn't even open, let alone in great shape. And to suggest that snowfall so far this season has been better than "modest" sounds like an ad for Crystal Holidays.

Megeve has 50 runs closed and plenty of Les Saisies red and black runs are closed (above 1500m) for lack of snow. Them's the facts.

It will change next week but let's be realistic. So far, except for the highest altitudes, this season has had poor snow conditions. And there are loads of French resorts with a lot of skiing below 2000m.

You'll need to Register first of course.

SLF evening update for Switzerland. Much of the SW at Level 4.

http://www.slf.ch/lawinenbulletin/index_EN

And their thoughts on the weather (my bold).

"Observed weather on Sunday, 10.1.2016

During the night, there was additional snowfall in the Engadine. Subsequently, skies cleared up in all regions of the Swiss Alps. During the daytime, skies in western and northern regions were overcast and above approximately 1400 to 1800 m there was intermittent snowfall. In Grisons and in Ticino, skies were variably cloudy but it for the most part remained dry.

Fresh snow

Between Saturday evening and Sunday evening above approximately 2000 m, the following amounts of new fallen snow were registered:

Chablais, Vaud and Fribourg Alps, western Bernese Alps, northern Grisons: 10 to 20 cm
Engadine and the valleys bordering to the south: 5 to 15 cm
in other regions, just a few centimeters

...

Weather forecast through Monday, 11.1.2016

Skies will frequently be heavily overcast, accompanied by snowfall. During the afternoon in particular, bright intervals are possible. The snowfall level is expected to ascend to approximately 1700 m by tomorrow morning, subsequently drop down again towards 1000 m.

Fresh snow

By Sunday evening above approximately 1800 m, the following amounts of new fallen snow are expected.

western part of Lower Valais, northern sector of the Alpine Ridge from Chablais as far as the Grimsel region, Main Alpine Ridge from Lower Valais into the Monte Rosa region, as well as from Lukmanier Pass into the Bernina region: 30 to 50 cm, from place to place as much as 70 cm;
remaining sectors of the northern flank of the Alps, remaining parts of Valais, remaining parts of central Grisons, remain parts of the central sector of the southern flank of the Alps: 15 to 30 cm, from place to place as much as 40 cm;
northern Grisons and Lower Engadine: less than 10 cm;
Jura: 10 to 20 cm above approximately 1200 m.

Temperature

At midday at 2000 m, between -4°C in western regions and -2°C in eastern and southern regions.

Wind

Winds will shift from southwesterly to westerly and be blowing at strong to storm strength on the northern flank of the Alps, in other regions at moderate to strong velocity.

Outlook through Wednesday, 13.1.2016

Tuesday

Skies will be variably cloudy, accompanied by snow showers. From the Valais over the Gotthard region as far as northern Grisons, an additional 20 to 40 cm of fresh fallen snow is possible. In southern regions, next to no additional snowfall is anticipated. Winds will continue to blow at strong velocity. The avalanche danger is not expected to change significantly.

Wednesday

In northern regions, conditions will be instable, accompanied by snow showers. In southern regions it will be quite sunny. The avalanche danger is expected to incrementally diminish, particularly in the regions where there has been participation."

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

After all it is free

but higher up is good? Listening to Steve Angus' periscope yesterday he said 1m fresh on the Val D'Isere glacier, and that was before last night and todays snow up there!

@pam w, maybe the Tarentaise has been doing better than the Beaufortain, but I can assure you that everything here is 100% open, even, for example, the Ecudets runs at La Rosiere, which are south-facing runs dropping down as low as 1100m. You could happily ski in my back garden at 900m. MeteoFrance is assessing the "complete cover" altitudes as 700m on all aspects. They are also reporting that we are now back to (at least) normal snow-depths for the time of year. I've not been able to go up the hill for a few days due to a stinking cold and having to study for an exam, but my Dad was up today and called it the best skiing conditions he's ever seen.

Yes, there's been some heavy rain, but there was so much new snow beforehand that there is still deep snow lying all the way to the valley. This was followed-up by a full day of new snow yesterday, with the snow/rain limit hovering around 1500m all day.

The only lift/piste closures around here are due to avalanche risk - i.e. too MUCH snow!

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

Round my way, the snow that fell last week is exactly the same as that which has fallen this season. Laughing

snow reports

stupid question, but I only started skiing again 6 years ago after not having been since a kid. I have never skied in conditions like I am heading out too, good snow cover, full cannon coverage, but temperatures of -20! What the heck is it like skiing in those kind of temperatures?

@scotspikey, the same, just wear an extra layer or two.

You know it makes sense.

is the snow not frozen solid Puzzled

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

@Sneachta2013, les gets, france

@Garioch, yep that was mentioned in Henrys avalanche report, heavy rain soaked pistes that refreeze can help a weak base

A snowHead

@scotspikey, Only if there is very high water content, i.e the snow melts and refreezes. As there will be quite a bit falling you should have lovely snow conditions on piste as the low temperatures will not allow the snow to melt. The wind is the real nasty bug-ger and can be very unfavourable to ski/board in.

A snowHead

Soft slushy snow hurts less when you fall! -20 slopes are like concrete.

Edit: Sorry if you fall not when Wink

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Cheers guys! Only 6 more days! I've packed already. Embarassed

You need to Login to know who's really who.

LOTS of avalanche control all day in Ischgl today, producing BIG slides on everything that they controlled (talking over 20 slide paths here, on different aspects, all with big results). Pistes actually are very good - other than the bottom half of the home run (chaos was even worse than usual as it was closed form approx 3:30 to 3:45 due to avalanche control, so a huge horde built up during the wait, all charging off at the same time).

Some nice powder (<15cms) on the few slopes high enough to have solid cover but mellow enough to be safe.

Crazy amounts of snow transport.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

@scotspikey, its fine just layer up but the difference between -5 & -20 is largely indiscernible unless its very windy. Perhaps wear a snood to at least cover your face on exposed chairs. The coldest I've skied in was -27 and it was ok really.

You'll need to Register first of course.

It was raining/snowing pretty much non-stop from Thursday. No idea where the snow line is. Last time I skied was Thursday and it was snowing all the way down to Chable, but snow turned into rain later in the afternoon. Lot of snow at the village level was washed by rain. There must be tons of snow higher up, but I suspect this snow is quite heavy

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

@stevomcd, there are low runs open in the Espace Diamant too but many of those had the artificial snow base to start with. There are a lot of steeper runs here which were simply grass and would probably have been able to open without the rain deluge. I've never known any of our runs closed for avalanche risk.

After all it is free

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

No, never said it was a disaster, just wanting to counter the daft claim that meters of snow had fallen to low altitudes round Megeve. I think the ratio of open runs (75%) is similar here , unsurprisingly as its next door and the terrain is similar.

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

next weekend is shaping up to be the best of the season so far.....looks like the alps will get 1-2m this week, and then the sun will come out Cool

snow reports

You know it makes sense.

@Piemonster, thanks to all the forecasting above am going to beat the rush and pick up some chains tomorow

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

A snowHead

@langball, hope Les Gets gets some good conditions. Had a terrific hog roast at La Grande Ourse last year. Good memories of the place.

A snowHead

@nozawaonsen, that's a great spot, haven't been up mont chery yet this year, love the red down the back. Come back sometime.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

@langball, With the temps due to drop towards the end of the week do you think the bottom of the Pleney at Morzine will be open by the weekend? I'd assume that even without the snow thats forecasted they would have the cannons on?

You need to Login to know who's really who.

@no_snow_in_swindon, don't confuse me with someone who knows anything.....but it sure looks that way...all the forecasts are for snow down to 400-500m

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

@langball, haha thanks. Just thought I'd ask as your location is local! Smile

We arrive next Sunday and am loving the forecast for the latter part of the week.

I've been reading through this thread for the past couple of weeks and and very impressed with the quality of the knowledge on here. I still have to check snow-forecast to get a laymans view though! (Hangs head in shame!)

You'll need to Register first of course.

ECM keeps temperatures below average out until 20 January (though looks like they might warm a little thereafter).

The GFS op takes it back to seasonal average on 19 Jan and then hovers there or a bit under for the rest of the run (although the op is one of the milder solutions).

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

Well, still pouring with rain but this evening's Meteo Chamonix forecast sees temps dropping tomorrow with snow to low levels by Tuesday and 65 - 95 cms of snow at 1800m by the end of Tuesday. A lull on Wednesday then more cold snow Thursday. No numbers on that yet.

After all it is free

@scotspikey, If it really is -20C then mittens rather than gloves might be a good shout.

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

Help!!

The All New 15/16 Weather Outlook Thread

snowHeads Forum Index >>> Snow Reports - weather - snow conditions