 Poster: A snowHead
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Bit draughty this morning. Currently only the nursery slopes are showing any sign of opening. We have had another 20cm of snow in the village and 30cm at altitude, but with the horrendous gusts it has been distributed in varying depths, mostly on my balcony! I suspect little will happen today but there will be pockets of really nice fresh sometime in the future, but an awful lot of heavy windblasted off piste with some heavily scoured areas.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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So why didn't a chairlift turn a wheel or a cog in Tignes or Val D'Isere today? Over to you Bob:
The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind
The answer is blowing in the wind
It was quite bizarre today, there would be gentle breezes and light snow one minute and then a howling gust of wind, fit to blow a person over and force snow through the smallest gap in a window frame! So it really wasn't worth taking a picture. Therefore it was a day of shopping and coffee and not a lot else.
And now the weather, it is very tricky for the forecasters at the moment, Storm Georgina seems to have a mind of her own so even tomorrow's weather may change. After that we are on the edge of a number of weather systems, if they move north or south our weather here in paradise could change dramatically. With that in mind here's my guesstimate:
the winds will drop in speed this evening and light snow will continue throughout tomorrow. The winds will be light tomorrow and it won't be that cold. However, the pisteurs will have a monumental task in the morning so expect a slow start and a gradual opening of the lifts. The snow intensity will pick up in the afternoon. The avalanche risk is 4 so please be very careful if you venture beyond the poles. This moderate snow will continue through Friday and a stiff breeze may well build up in the afternoon. The temperature will drop sharply through Friday night but the snow will continue into Saturday and the snowline will be down in Moutiers so some travel disruption is inevitable with the current forecast. We may well see the sun on Sunday between fast moving snow showers and it will be a bit warmer but it will be windy.
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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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Thanks for the update, sounds like our decision to drive a day early may pay off as long as not too much snow on Friday. Beyond excitedly looking forward to it!!
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The pisteurs are certainly rattling the windows this morning!
Wind and amount of snow appear to have eased off a bit. Nothing much showing on the Tignes App at the moment but a couple of optimistic souls have just skiied down the street below us.
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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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| GeorgeVII wrote: |
The pisteurs are certainly rattling the windows this morning!
Wind and amount of snow appear to have eased off a bit. Nothing much showing on the Tignes App at the moment but a couple of optimistic souls have just skiied down the street below us. |
Yep, Rosset was off while they threw some dynamite around the Lavachet Wall.
Its just turned back on, so that area looking ok. Slow opening, poor vis but good snow conditions sounds the order of the day - certainly beats yesterdays bore fest 
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Slooooowly opening up, waiting for a few more lifts as queues quite long at the moment.
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@Philip1972, Eeeek - hope the windows were all shut!
Well it was a slow start and with a wind at altitude the lift openings were limited. I waited until just before lunchtime before venturing out and the queues died down a bit. Ideally it would have been a day for the trees but the links were closed and the Brevieres sector did not open until too late for me1 The snow intensity picked up after a late lunch such that you could see nothing. It is now (4pm) snowing heavily. The snow on the pistes soon bumped up, off piste was OK, but its not champagne powder thanks to the wind and the temperatures. But as the light was so poor it wasn't really for me, I did see quite a few people digging for skis though....
Misquoting "Ch Ch Ch Changes" by David Bowie is my excuse for the forecast over the next few days, the atmosphere is chaotic for a few more days so, once again, here goes:
This moderate to heavy snow will continue into the small hours when the winds will pick up but the snow intensity will drop to light. So tomorrow morning is likely to be similar to this morning, more blasting, poor light, a slow start and limited lift opening. But there may be the odd decent patch of light around lunchtime before the light snow comes back. This will continue into Saturday morning when it looks like it is going to be colder with light to moderate snow and strong winds. As it is transfer day things are going to be slow as the snowline will be between Moutiers and Bourg. Unless you have a 4x4 with winter tyres then chains will be essential - have a practice. Sunday will be equally snowy and windy. Monday is currently expected to be a day of sunny periods and snow showers, these may well be sleet in the villages in the middle of the day as it s warming up. We are a bit unsure about Tuesday but there is hope from mid week as the Jetstream is moving north which should give us clearer weather and maybe a couple of bluebird days.
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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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Not sure what to make of all this. Will be arriving Sunday and staying in Boisses. Snow Forecast is currently showing heavy rain in Brev as we arrive with the freezing level moving up to 2000 metres by Monday. And yet, and yet. There is so much snow already down that it should all be OK. Assuming that the wind behaves itself of course. Just doesn't seem like January somehow.
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Freeze level I am seeing is not below 1570 at its highest for a week.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Not been on for a while. Did they ever find the skier John Bromell? Missing off the Paquis.
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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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Err, I meant above......
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@Mark1863, no he has not been found, actually apparently a boarder rather than a skier, not that that makes any difference to the outcome. Also Promell rather than Bromell. So much more snow unlikely to be found any time soon unfortunately.
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You know it makes sense.
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Hi guys does anyone know what the snowpark situation is looking like? I've just booked in with the UCPA for the 27th of this month and wondered what kind of effect a snow-dump of this magnitude would have on it.
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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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@McTokeDaddySlim, It takes a while but normally it is 2 -3 days before they are up and running again - a lot of snow to shift.
This morning the view from the window was not great, windy and snowy. We had received another 10cm or so of snow but a lot more had blown into hollows. So the picture (taken from under the duvet!) shows a piste basher moving the snow so the Almes chairlift could actually move:
The chairs progressively opened and then about 11AM it was time for 'Our Cilla':
Surprise, surprise, the unexpected hits you between the eyes
The unpredictable, that's the surprise you see, surprise! surprise!
Yes the sun came out we could actually see the fresh snow, so a few laps of the Palafour were in order. Off piste was very variable, the gullies had some light stuff but it was mostly very heavy with the odd patch of windblown hardpack. We also shot down to Brevieres where the pistes had lumped up. At about 2PM the light disappeared and light snow started again.
The weather remains unpredictable but the light snow showers will continue through the nigh and tomorrow morning. There will be the odd respite in the early hours but the temperature will drop by 5 or so degrees so tomorrow morning will feel much colder than today. Moderate snow down to 600m will then start just before lunch and continue into Sunday, the winds will also pick up from lunchtime on Saturday. Sunday will be snowy but it will warm up significantly such that the snowline may well reach 2000m by early evening but there will be little wind. Monday will also be snowy with a stiff breeze and a snowline around 1500m, there may well be a glimpse of the sun just as the lifts close. We are not sure what is going to happen on Tuesday as we are right on the edge of the weather system. For Wednesday we are looking at blue skies and sunshine.
For the travellers tomorrow: The advice would be to carry a 'bus buffet' as it may well be a long journey. The snowline will be around Moutiers so do not even think about passing Albertville without snowchains. This includes drivers of BMW 4x4s! Normally with 20000 vehicles arriving and 17000 leaving there would be few problems, but the weather will be a major factor so queues are inevitable. The local authorities are already on standby to provide emergency accommodation - lets hope its not needed. For those travelling by air there is a chance of a sleet shower almost anywhere in the UK which may mean that aircraft have to be de-iced and perhaps the runway surfaces too. The same applies to the 4 airports over here where there will also be a gusty wind so fasten those safety belts tightly. Overall I am not expecting too many delays but if Chambery gets a heavy sleet shower then you may have 'to go round the hold' a few times.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@chocksaway, flying into Chambery tomorrow afternoon (2pm) most sites suggesting its just going to be rain there but a little gusty, do you know how strong those have to be to shut it down? I've a few experiences with Chambery which resulted in a 5 hour detour 
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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 weather warning just now of very heavy snow from midday Saturday I suspect problems will be to get up to resorts.
So make sure you have plenty of snacks to tide you over
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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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@Russeh, Its a bit more complicated than gusts unfortunately. As there is a big mountain to the south of Chambery a southerly wind (which is what they are currently forecasting) is fine for your arrival but aircraft cannot take off heading south as you would hit terra firma. However, because the runway is a bit lacking in Length (and size really matters here!) it might be tricky for aircraft to take off 'downwind' (ie pointing north over the lake) so the aircraft operator way well opt to divert so your outbound flight can take off safely. I wish I could be more positive but....
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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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Does anyone know why the links between Tignes and VDI are closed? It is saying "technical issue" on the Ski Plan. Is this simply a weather related issue or something more difficult to fix? Any information would be much appreciated. Thanks.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Sometimes info gets left on from the day before. It then gets updated around 9. Hopefully that is the case today!
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@Vasta, Open now. Tommeuses had a technical issue following the gales earlier the week - now fixed. Not sure why Val aren't running Borsat.
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@chocksaway, got diverted to Lyon. Think going to avoid chambery in future. What’s annoying is they would have known they couldn’t land before we left. Anyway lots of time to kill now we’re just added a good few hours into our journey.
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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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Hi Chocks - Thanks for your info. I saw it was running this morning but as the chairs were disappearing into the cloud and the snow, decided to stick to the Daille runs which were amazing!!
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Russeh. Is/was that the Manchester flight BY2626? The only divert today. Aircraft/rating issue? Everything else seem to have landed ok
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Had a fab first ever day in Val. Up on first lifts, skied up and down to Daille a few times, snow fantastic. Up and over to Tovieres then back across to Solaise. Up there the visibility went so came down the red Germaines and did a few loops of Rogony working on technique! Snowing heavily now, not sure what tomorrow will bring!
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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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Nah this was Flybe from Birmingham. High winds at chambery. Good news is TO is taxing us direct which means we don’t have to wait around
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| Russeh wrote: |
| @chocksaway, got diverted to Lyon. Think going to avoid chambery in future.................. |
Learnt that many years ago....Its an awful airport to chance a winter landing in.
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You know it makes sense.
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Not sure that the Pet Shop Boys were thinking of Tignes and Val D'Isere when they sang 'The Calm Before the Storm', but it seems a pretty apt title. There was a milky sun this morning and a few more centimetres of snow so the pistes had a nice covering and off piste was anything from light powder to frozen sastrugi, a mixed bag. This is a shot of the Grande Motte are a mid morning:
Inexorably the light faded and the snow started and since about 1pm it has been honking down at over 5cm an hour. The avalanche risk is already 4 and some areas of Tignes are 'confined to barracks' whilst avalanche blasting takes place. It is now snowing a long way down the hill and the traffic is building up...... The snow will continue through the night and the winds will pick up shortly to gale force. These winds will drop to manageable levels by breakfast time tomorrow but the snow ill continue all day, luckily it is going to be a bit cooler than forecast yesterday and the snowline will remain obligingly just below Les Brevieres, it might be a bit sleety around tea time. So tomorrow will be a very slow start with avalanche blasting from dawn and lifts opening progressively. I will be taking a Sunday lie in! Monday will also be snowy and windy, the snowline will creep up to 1800m in the middle of the day. All in all I can easily see another 60-90cmby Monday afternoon. But the good news is that Tuesday now looks quite nice with fluffy clouds and sun in the morning and sun in the afternoon. Wednesday looks fab, blue skies and sunshine.
The biggest issue tomorrow will be getting out of Tignes in the morning (Val may not be too bad). They are setting up a convoy system from 10 tonight and the road may close at midnight depending on the amount of snow. The road down to Boisses will be closed for avalanche control from 4-7am and maybe longer. A wise tour operator would be taking you down the hill tonight if you have a morning flight (or getting you up at an unfeasibly early hour). Once down the valley the traffic will be light but snow chains will be mandatory to leave either resort. There is again a chance of sleet at almost all the UK airports and the ones over here, so again you may need deicing. This sleet may turn to snow at Leeds, Stansted and Luton (and possibly others) - its one of those days where a degree or so either way will make all the difference.
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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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| chocksaway wrote: |
| Inexorably... |
That's only the 42nd time that word has been used on this forum.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Interesting. Chambery (that bastion of superb airport organisation) shows flybe from birmingham BE3973 as having landed at 14.36.....
Others post 15.00 diverted to Lys or Gnb
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Rumours of the road blocked between St foy and Tignes due to Avalanche. Another nightmare transfer day.
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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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Our annual, regular Royal Navy guests in our apartment in Val C (here for the RN Ski Champs), got up the hill just fine - no chains - just the village a bit iffy early afternoon.
Capt. S.
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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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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Currently stormbound. The road out of Tignes is closed until at least 9am for avalanche control, suspect it may be a while. The soundtrack from outside reminds me of Kandahar on a 'busy' night. Not sure how much snow there has been as its all moving around so quickly 
A morning of coffee and waiting........
In resort emergency number is 04 79 40 04 93
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@chocksaway, First blasting started at 4am so I suspect that was the road. Bit of a rude awakening after a late one in the Embu'.
Still blasting away now. Bit of a comedy moment as we watched a small group skiing down from the Bec Rouge. In very poor viz a couple of them drifted off the marked track and promptly disappeared up to their waists. Took them a good few minutes to extract themselves and find their skis.
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ESF have been deployed to dig out the poubelle
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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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Wow that's a lot of snow.
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makes a change from 'the best conditions are on the upper slopes' 
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