 Poster: A snowHead
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| joemalone wrote: |
| sarah wrote: |
| joemalone, where are you skiing? |
Morzine, Avoriaz and Les Gets. Apparently I'm being pessimistic for reporting the facts. We were skiing mud today and more than one person in our Chalet commented that it's the worst skiing conditions they've ever encountered. I watched various piste workers shovel snow onto large bare patches of earth throughout the day. I'm not a pessimist, I'm a realist and these are the worst conditions I've ever encountered, almost freakish. One of our Chalet staff tells me that last week it was -7 degrees in Geneva and 15 degrees in Morzine. Yes we all know how weather conditions can change and I've been here 4 days and been promised snow on every day plus had weather forecasts of 40cm of snow before we left. It hasn't happened and I'd have happily wore a t-shirt for most of the day, it is that mild, way too mild for snow. We're promised it will snow tonight though.... |
I'm not sure who has been promising you snow for the last four days, but none of the forecast models have predicted any precipitation in this area since last week (when we did in fact get some, but the foehn has been brutal since), so there really is no surprise. Have a look at the links posted by Chatel Snow in this thread. Snow forecast for late tomorrow and early 26th (rain lower down), nothing forecast by anyone for tonight! When the weather is like this you need to stay high, in Avoriaz you will not be "mud skiing", the conditions are OK given the current meteorological conditions, not ideal by any means, but OK and you can ski. This is early season, you are skiing low, it can be like this - it is certainly not freakish. I, like everyone, would like to be waist deep in powder, but it does not always happen.
Bob
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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At least the pisteurs pick it up and move it nowadays. We have experienced many Christmases when we have thought we will be walking not skiing - here and in Austria. Some of our family skied in Chatel Linga and Avoriaz quite early today and found plenty to ski on - also found some fairly loathsome Brit groups barging in the lift queues thinking they were very clever - maybe a bit to much beer consumed. Pere Noel arrived in Les Gets this evening and our little 15 month old grand-daughter thought the whole experience of Christmas in the mountains was brilliant, and the fireworks too.
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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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| Nelbert75 wrote: |
I signed up to the forum as I'm off to the PDS a couple of times over the course of the winter.
Im sorry to take issue with the previous post on my first post - but these are not 'freakish' conditions. This is the chance you took when you chose to visit a 1000m resort in the first week of its season. And a snowstorm has been promised for Christmas Day for about 10 days, after some initial rain that's looking like what you'll get. Alpine snow and weather has always been unpredictable in December, this year is more the rule than the exception - despite the snowy Christmases of the past few years. It looks like the season is taking a turn for the better from tomorrow on, so I hope you enjoy the change in fortune |
Why are you commenting on what chances I took visiting a low resort?? It's not relevant to my post and you're stating the bleeding obvious. You're not here but happy to comment on what the weather 'looks like.' I'm purely reporting on the conditions and chalet staff who have worked here for over 10 years have described conditions as 'freakish'. I've just returned from a late evening walk in Morzine and it is so warm that you'll not need coat, hat or gloves. Snow tonight? No chance IMHO but I'll be happy to be proved wrong. Those in London and elsewhere seem to have the inside track for reasons unknown.
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I finished my post on a positive for the remainder of your break, so I'm not sure why I you felt such a forceful reply was necessary.
I would have thought it was obvious why I mentioned your choice of resort; you were moaning about the 'worst snow conditions you have ever experienced'. When arranging your break you should have been aware there was a risk that the snow might not be great?
Whether you are there and I am not is irrelevant - the consensus across ALL weather models, forecasts etc is rain to start tomorrow, followed by snow to increasingly low levels, including below Morzine town at 1000m. Instead of having a pop, google the 'foehn effect', which may give you a wee clue as to why it's currently so warm, and be happy that you will have some new snow to play in by Boxing Day morning. I would suggest you might have found something else to complain about by then however
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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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Merry Christmas to all on this thread and may Father Christmas bring us all some snow tonight 
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Merry Christmas from Chatel!
Nothing much has changed overnight - though precipitation totals appear to have been upgraded with more than 60cm now very much a possibility above 1700/1800m (though this is still not guaranteed!)
It is going to be a wet day here in resort at 1200m, but the snow/rain level is forecast to come down to around this level at some stage of the evening (timing uncertain). It is currently about 6C here at the moment, so there is some way to go before we see the first flakes down here. There is still a question mark about how much will fall at this altitude. If it all goes to plan then 20 to 30cm is feasible, if not then nearer 10cm. We shall see!!!
Will post updates on progress during the day...
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| Nelbert75 wrote: |
I finished my post on a positive for the remainder of your break, so I'm not sure why I you felt such a forceful reply was necessary.
I would have thought it was obvious why I mentioned your choice of resort; you were moaning about the 'worst snow conditions you have ever experienced'. When arranging your break you should have been aware there was a risk that the snow might not be great?
Whether you are there and I am not is irrelevant - the consensus across ALL weather models, forecasts etc is rain to start tomorrow, followed by snow to increasingly low levels, including below Morzine town at 1000m. Instead of having a pop, google the 'foehn effect', which may give you a wee clue as to why it's currently so warm, and be happy that you will have some new snow to play in by Boxing Day morning. I would suggest you might have found something else to complain about by then however |
The resort is irrelevant, I have skied Morzine before and I am well aware of the risks in skiing a low resort. I don't really understand why individuals like yourself take it upon themselves to to attack posters for reporting weather conditions and 'moaning'. Google the 'Foehn effect', no thanks, I'm not posting to receive lessons in meteorology, I'm simply reporting how it actually is. This thread is about weather conditions and snow reports, I'm sure people know where to go for weather forecasts and maybe they might be able to check the validity of those forecasts against the actual conditions via this thread. Incidentally, the day before I left for this holiday (19th) all the weather forecasts predicted 40cm of overnight snow, it didn't happen and I'm sure the meteorologists must have known about the foehn effect. I find it amusing that you are dismissing posters location as irrelevant and had I known this was actually a thread for amateur meteorologists then I would have refrained from posting.
Oh, and Merry Christmas.
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Merry Christmas all.
| joemalone wrote: |
| .......Incidentally, the day before I left for this holiday (19th) all the weather forecasts predicted 40cm of overnight snow, it didn't happen....... |
Err, 30cm in the Lindarets bowl on the night of 19th, and more higher up, does that not count!!
Bob
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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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| Ardoyne wrote: |
Merry Christmas all.
| joemalone wrote: |
| .......Incidentally, the day before I left for this holiday (19th) all the weather forecasts predicted 40cm of overnight snow, it didn't happen....... |
Err, 30cm in the Lindarets bowl on the night of 19th, and more higher up, does that not count!!
Bob |
Yep Bob - I hand measured 30 to 35cm late morning at 4 locations last Friday between 1800m and 2100m. Might be measuring more than that by tomorrow lunchtime!
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Just back from 4 days staying in Morzine. Thank goodness for the 40cm (at altitude) on 18th-19th. We had a great time just acknowledged that the off piste was limited and care needed in selecting areas for a few fresh tracks. The pistes up higher were excellent and only poor on the access routes to the lower resorts. Yes, snow is required and rain would be the main concern. Here's hoping the freezing levels drop when the low pressure hits. Merry Christmas
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Merry Christmas all. I made it back at 11 last night after walk, bus, work, tube, plane and transfer. Remarkably given the state of things in the UK everything was on time!
Rain just started in Petit Chatel. 5C on the balcony and we are at exactly 1300m though the temperature is probably affected by proximity to the building. Temperature has fallen 1C since I got up.
Hopefully coming as snow higher up.
Lazy start for us I think
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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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Correction: Snowed 19th-20th.
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Merry Christmas everyone - it is 2.6C at our chalet, 1200, and raining. The bus goes by every half hour jammed with skiers. Just been into the town to the pharmacy..... bit of something going round our family.... but the dog and 15 month old are pleased to have company as not all trying to get out of the house. Let's hope things change later.
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You know it makes sense.
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Merry Christmas everyone.
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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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Thanks for all the live reports, please keep them coming. It is super entertainment considering we are going to Avoriaz on 9th of January. Fingers crossed that the snow/rain line will drop fast today so everyone out there now can get some christmas snow.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Latest NAE and Euro4 models have updated (both used by Met Office) and show in excess of 60cm of snow equivalent precipitation for this area by end of tomorrow for this storm. Still very uncertain what amount will fall between 1000m and 1200m - but top half of the mountain looking good for a plastering.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Looks like the season will pick up for the area. Just goes to show, if you want to ski early or late. Go high.
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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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Rain thundering down on the roof! Still about 2C - now the men of the house are finding things to eat as the excitement of all the parcel opening has given them an appetite that theHead Caterer (a 5:2 girl) was not going to feed till dinner this evening. Very food orientated presents here with cook books, gadgets, huge great Vitamix all over the place.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Lashing down I'd say.
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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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Lashing down with snow that is, snow line appearing on Mt Chery.
My Xmas pressie is here!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Just turned to wet snow at 1300m in Petit Chatel. 2.2C and dropping if you believe my Euro10 weather station which is now predicting sleet so about right!
Thoughts of skiing today abandoned. Turkey about to go in.
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emwmarine, not necessarily.
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| under a new name wrote: |
| emwmarine, not necessarily. |
Pretty much. Just stand on the top of a 3000m mountain in the alps at the moment and see the snow thinning and disappearing towards the snow line at around 1800m.
It's why our guests have been able to ski since end November at the 3Vs and why the lower resorts have struggled a lot more.
It's why I ski in VT 1st week May most years and why I got caught in a snowstorm cycling up the mountain there in late June.
Altitude is why we all go down to pretty nearly the Mediterranean and are able to ski.
It's true that the further into the continent you go then the colder it gets as well - but it is the plain physics of altitude that counts.
edit: Even a couple of hundred metres counts when the conditions are marginal at beginning and end of the season.
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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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DJL, Yep - heavy wet snow falling down in the resort - not sure if this is the snow level falling ahead of schedule or a temporary lowering due to the heavy nature of it all.
If it is ahead of schedule, then it is VERY good news indeed!!!
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Back to sleet at 1200m - looks like the snow rain limit will fluctuate around the 1200m to 1400m mark over the next few hours before lowering at some stage of the evening.
edit - and back to heavy snow again!!!
edit - and back to sleet again
etc etc ....
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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emwmarine, sure, not arguing with those points but try having fun in VT in a high wind whiteout when I am skiing fun bumps and powder through the trees in Avoriaz.
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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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Coming down very steadily here. Road, roof, cars all covered. No great depth but it must be helping up top.
Anyone actually out on the slopes?
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DJL, a friend has just FB'd that it is now snowing hard up at PLJ
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You know it makes sense.
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Roof, cars and road all white again in Les Gets .Isn't it noisy on a metal roof when it rains! If we had our time again, and were building another place we would go for a different type of roof.
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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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DJL, went up to Avoriaz at about 2pm today, it's very snowy up there, especially in the Fornet area. The snow was turning to rain about halfway down the Prodains cable car. Very wet in Morzine town though!
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Poster: A snowHead
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Ignoring misery guts, I am in Chapel D'Abondance and was skiing in Chattel today, they have done amazing well with the little snow they had, and it has dumped a load today. I can confirm there are a lout of arrogant Brits around the place moaning and generally being Brits, embarrassing to those of us who heave manners bad realistic expectations!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Just done a bin and bottle run . Steady rain and 2C made the walk to the bins a bit chilly and miserable but hopefully it is laying it down up above. Must be snow above 1500m which is where we do most of our skiing. We'll see come the morning.
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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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| under a new name wrote: |
| emwmarine, sure, not arguing with those points but try having fun in VT in a high wind whiteout when I am skiing fun bumps and powder through the trees in Avoriaz. |
I think we are agreeing. There are many times when I would prefer that as well.
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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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It's snowing here now (Beaufortain, not far away) but after having being dry all evening - no precipitation at all. It's snowing, but without much conviction and meteo France have scaled down their forecast snowfall tomorrow. Looking a lot less than spectacular, at the moment.
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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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20cm of snow on the van at 1200m so far this morning. Photo to follow in a few mins.
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Looks to have been a good amount overnight and still coming down for the foreseeable, should be a great day for everyone around here, I'd imagine it's even better higher up!
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Looks awesome have a great day 
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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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Well there's certainly a lot on my balcony at 1000m and still coming down like it's set in for the day.
My electricity was off and on lots of times in the night (so many that I just turned it off at the consumer unit), which suggests a lot of snow somewhere...
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FlyingStantoni,
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My electricity was off and on lots of times in the nigh
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that must make you feel as if you are back in the UK! There are certain areas aren't there where the electricity is more prone to give out. I wonder about the repercussions to some of the lifts - I think that the Follietts is a bit sensitive like that.
Some of our lot are off to Ardent - babysitter here for the day so we can all go out but the winter vom thing has been sweeping through here, 4 adults so far, only two left to go, and me the latest hence on here. Baby fell into the edge of a cupboard so huge lump on head - thank goodness the babysitter is a nurse so she is in charge.
It looks very set in for the day - it should cheer everyone up a bit.
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FAQ
The van at 7am. There are a couple online at:
