 Poster: A snowHead
|
Thought it might be useful to have a single thread that summarises conditions across the Alps?
I've just been looking at some fairly low-lying resorts in Switzerland and France and they have very little or no skiing.
But similar altitude places in Austria (e.g. near Innsbruck) have most runs open.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
@Neil Neige, there will be snow across the Alps for the rest of the week, so any condition reports today will be different tomorrow. I suspect the situation will look completely different by the weekend.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
If anyone hears about any corner of the alps that didn't get much snow, or the snow was icy or slushy or otherwise disappointing, can you be sure to post here?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
And the heterogeneity across the alps makes this a bit pointless.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
| under a new name wrote: |
| And the heterogeneity across the alps makes this a bit pointless. |
The heterogeneity of conditions in the Alps is the whole point of the thread.
Otherwise, you have to dive into 10-20 threads to get a feel for the overall picture.
It's a suggestion for a single thread to summarise conditions across the different parts of the Alps - e.g. in northern France there's very little snow below 1500m, in the Dolomites most runs are open, etc.
If of little use, just let it drop away.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
Timing! I could write about St Anton today, but if the storm forecast for later in the week comes anywhere close to delivering as hyped (+1 to 1.5m), today’s report will be meaningless.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The heterogeneity of the Alps does not fit in one thread.
And indeed, you're too late. Holidays are over, and snow is falling, and supposed to keep on falling for the coming two weeks.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
My first day out on Jungfrau region this season. Cold fresh snow last night improved things massively.
Bizarrely, if we get too much snow in the next 2/3 days the race organisers will have a headache getting the Lauberhorn course ready for (practice) and the race on Saturday.
Fully expecting to ski a few powder runs in the morning (10th)
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
Pointless thread...the Guardianl already told me that the season is a washout due to climate change meaning no snow so what is the point of this?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@Neil Neige, in theory I can see a use for this thread, but I'm not sure how it could be effectively maintained. @Scarlet is right that it'll go out of date quickly so it would need frequent contributions to keep it updated.
For example, you could have:
- snowheads summarising conditions across the entire Alps in a single post, e.g.
French Alps (north)
Currently: rubbish below 1500m, good above 2,000m; standout areas include Tignes / Val d'Isere, Arc 2000, Val Thorens
Net change over next week: uncertain below 1500m, improving above that
French Alps (south)
Currently: generally reasonable conditions; standout areas include Serre Chevalier, Puy St Vincent
Net change over next week: uncertain below 1500m, slight improvement above that
...and so on for other countries. Obviously they would be massive generalisations.
or
- many people posting conditions from specific parts of the Alps, and you could keep an up-to-date summary in the opening thread, by editing it continuously
There are websites which give daily summaries such as https://www.weathertoski.co.uk, but I'm assuming you want something a little more specific than that. (Or the SCGB's "Snow Overview", which is pretty awful.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
Just like here in the UK we can see how milder than normal air masses are making snowfall much more marginal in the Alps. Half or even quarter degree centigrade differences become critical to whether snow or rain falls.
In terms of kms of open piste which may be of interest to skiers out for a typical 6 day piste skiing holiday:
https://www.skiresort.info/snow-reports/europe/sorted/open-slopes/
Last edited by snowHeads are a friendly bunch. on Mon 9-01-23 23:10; edited 2 times in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
I think its a good idea as I spend an inordinate amount of time daydreaming / opening the threads that are showing updates, often to find that its just people talking about a restaurant, or a route from the airport or whatever. I mean I'm not against that, if people are talking about snow conditions in a resort they'll invariably talk about the resort generally, and I'll benefit from getting answers to qs too. But it would be nice to have one thread that said "Skied Hintertux today, very good conditions up the top, getting a bit slushy from 1800" or whatever.
Of course that's not going to happen and I'll still read the other threads anyway if they've updated, but I still like the idea
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I think it’s a great idea too!
I’ve spent hours as above poster looking at conditions ar various resorts.
We have a Eurostar to paris on Saturday am and after that no idea where we are going , waiting to see what happens..
St anton, serre chevalier, somewhere trainable with good snow in Austria , val d’isere maybe ..
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
| Peter S wrote: |
Just like here in the UK we can see how milder than normal air masses are making snowfall much more marginal in the Alps. Half or even quarter degree centigrade differences become critical to whether snow or rain falls.
In terms of kms of open piste which may be of interest to skiers out for a typical 6 day piste skiing holiday:
https://www.skiresort.info/snow-reports/europe/sorted/open-slopes/ |
Gosh this is interesting. So st anton which reading the the threads looked good, has loads shut.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
@Snowysarah, I suspect that's quite misleading; in that if it's anywhere like here (Chamonix or indeed, PdS, Grand Massif) anything sub 1,500m is pretty much closed/bare (well, it's probably got 10cms on it this morning).
Also I note that the Grands Montets info is slightly incorrect on numbers. And also misleading. And the other day it had Grands Montets as "closed". Well, it was but only for avvy control and was going to and did open at 10h30 ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
|
|
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?
|
massive generalisation alert, but....
- New year hols are over, so resorts are quiet, therefore they don't need to open all slopes, particular those where there are two or more options between the same two points, and the volume of skiers can be absorbed in what they have open
- Slopes with no or less snow-making are more likely to be closed to protect what snow is there, ahead of the February busy period
- The weather has been unsettled since the weekend and continues to be so, hence places are quite windy so high links may be closed
- Resorts are busy shifting what snow has fallen onto pistes, so some slopes are closed for maintenance
- That list can never be that accurate as it just takes a sweep from somewhere once a day a best
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
Hmm. My experience in the Espace Diamant was that ALL slopes were open when there was enough snow, even when there were mercifully few skiers. A few lifts were sometimes shut at end of season. Runs never closed to preserve snow AFAIK.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
And only lifts closed were drags.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
| denfinella wrote: |
@Neil Neige, in theory I can see a use for this thread, but I'm not sure how it could be effectively maintained. @Scarlet is right that it'll go out of date quickly so it would need frequent contributions to keep it updated.
|
I'm all up for giving it a go, but I tend to agree with this. Most people know where they are going and can hone in on the relevant thread in the weather space. This would be particularly relevant to those that are going in a a few days but still haven't decided where they are going (but there can't be that many). I guess the beauty is that if it works then it gets used, stays relevant and updated.
The general weather thread works well as there are enough charts that you can focus in on quickly (and by nature of a map, can give a view point across Europe in one chart). If we could add some kind of chart summary of snow depths etc in different areas that might help? (could be a bit too simplistic though i guess).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@t44tomo, and in the Haute Savoie, in general, there still hasn't been enough snow below ~1500 to open anything much ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
| Quote: |
but snow depth is perhaps a bit of a red herring. I suspect the amount of Slopes and lifts open is probably more useful to holiday skiers ?
|
This. And any resort worth visiting will have this info on their website.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Peter S wrote: |
….but snow depth is perhaps a bit of a red herring. I suspect the amount of Slopes and lifts open is probably more useful to holiday skiers ? |
Snow depth gives some idea of completeness of cover, BUT… there is a mile of difference between a metre of depth, with the last snow fall being weeks ago, compared to a metre that received a 30cm top up a day ago.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
There is also a big difference between slopes on pasture which don't need a lot of snow (like many in the Portes du Soleil, for example) and higher, rocky, slopes which cannot be opened until there is better coverage.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
| denfinella wrote: |
@Neil Neige, in theory I can see a use for this thread, but I'm not sure how it could be effectively maintained. @Scarlet is right that it'll go out of date quickly so it would need frequent contributions to keep it updated.
There are websites which give daily summaries such as https://www.weathertoski.co.uk, but I'm assuming you want something a little more specific than that. (Or the SCGB's "Snow Overview", which is pretty awful.) |
Hi, thanks v much for letting me know about the weather to ski site. It appears to be exactly what I'm after!
A nice clear summary of how things are looking across the whole range. https://www.weathertoski.co.uk
Here's today's summary:
"A cold and unstable polar airmass remains in place across the Alps, with more snow in places today, heaviest in the west.
Another 15-30cm of new snow is expected today across much of the French Alps, with the greatest falls in the north (e.g. Grand Massif, Mont Blanc) but the southern French Alps (e.g. Risoul) getting a bit more in on the action than yesterday. The western Swiss Alps (e.g Villars), the far western Italian Alps (e.g. Bardonecchia) and the eastern Italian Alps (Dolomites) will also see a moderate fall of snow today (10-15cm), although it will arrive a bit later in the latter. The eastern Swiss Alps (e.g. Davos) and Austria will stay mostly dry during daylight hours but can expect some snow tonight.
Further snow is also expected in places tomorrow, chiefly in the north-western Alps (e.g. Portes du Soleil, Jungfrau region, Arlberg). Both today and tomorrow, any snow will fall to very low levels, often right into the “lowlands”.
Not very long ago there was almost no snow in the lower resorts of the north-western Alps, but this week these areas (e.g. Samoens, Les Carroz, Megeve, La Clusaz, Les Gets, Morzine, Villars, Gstaad) have seen a dramatic turn-around, with yet more snow to come both today and tomorrow. Conditions here are now excellent or, at least, will be once the weather settles down. It’s worth noting though that at altitude the risk of avalanche is high, partly due to all the new snow but also due to the wind, which was particularly strong yesterday.
Elsewhere in the Alps, most other regions have enjoyed at least some fresh snow this week with the far south-east (Carinthia) doing best. That said, the northern Austrian Alps (e.g. Zell am See, Kitzbühel) have missed most of the action so far.
These areas will get a few centimetres over the next couple of days with an increasing chance of some more substantial snow this weekend. The low temperatures also mean that snowmaking is now able to operate at full throttle."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| under a new name wrote: |
| And the heterogeneity across the alps makes this a bit pointless. |
It does, conditions around Grenoble are still pretty bad. Largely unskiable below 1800 meters off piste (if you are a piste skier don't worry, there is man made with some fresh snow on top). We are still in an "start of season" type snowpack at lower altitudes (base of pistes). It should snow down to valley level today which will finally improve things.
This illustrates the situation from the Meteo France monitoring station at the Col de Porte at 1360 meters. Dashed line is an "average" season. Red is 2022/23. Other lines are quintiles. So the current situation is above the worst 20% of seasons. Similar in the Vercors at 1600 m, about 20cm of snow cover with just two recent falls of 5 + 5cm.
But just a few kms north things in the Bauges range are looking reasonable now with 60cm total snowdepth at 1650 meters, 50cm has fallen in the last few days so it was pretty thin before.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
There is bloody loads of snow in Val d’isere/tignes !
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
The Jura has finally had some skiable snow too.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
@Snowysarah,
| Quote: |
There is bloody loads of snow in Val d’isere/tignes ! |
There is bloody loads of snow in Nassfeld (Carinthia /Southern Austria) too 
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
@Peter S, I suspect everything open is quite rare?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
The have been a LOT of avalanches iver the weekend
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
Tirol seems to have covered the rocks largely except for some post groomer gravel. Some shrubbery still available plus various amounts of wind farking of off piste.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Any general updates?
I did a bunk and headed for Japan for my January trip. February was written off for various reasons, but I'm wondering about a last minute booking March trip.
So here's the question - which this thread was designed for................ which bit of the Alps has faired best over the last month or so? From what I can see for the last week it's been a bit warmer than average and not an awful lot of snow . The forecast looks roughly the same for the next week.
I'm possibly leaning towards Austria, there's a deal to Bad Hofgastein in a few weeks and I've never been there before.....
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gotta be (eastern) Austria for newish snow. Or the eastern Pyrenees. But March is a long way away...
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
| rogg wrote: |
I'm wondering about a last minute booking March trip.
So here's the question - which this thread was designed for................ which bit of the Alps has faired best over the last month or so? From what I can see for the last week it's been a bit warmer than average and not an awful lot of snow . The forecast looks roughly the same for the next week.
I'm possibly leaning towards Austria, there's a deal to Bad Hofgastein in a few weeks and I've never been there before..... |
Austria got the big dump a week ago, but March is 3 weeks away and it’s warming up so that’s largely irrelevant to what conditions will be like in March.
Your best bet is to follow the forecasts from 2 weeks out and leave your decision to 3 days before by which point the forecast should be pretty reliable.
Alternatively take the offer you’ve got now and keep your fingers crossed!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| BobinCH wrote: |
| rogg wrote: |
I'm wondering about a last minute booking March trip.
So here's the question - which this thread was designed for................ which bit of the Alps has faired best over the last month or so? From what I can see for the last week it's been a bit warmer than average and not an awful lot of snow . The forecast looks roughly the same for the next week.
I'm possibly leaning towards Austria, there's a deal to Bad Hofgastein in a few weeks and I've never been there before..... |
Austria got the big dump a week ago, but March is 3 weeks away and it’s warming up so that’s largely irrelevant to what conditions will be like in March.
Your best bet is to follow the forecasts from 2 weeks out and leave your decision to 3 days before by which point the forecast should be pretty reliable.
Alternatively take the offer you’ve got now and keep your fingers crossed! |
That was my plan (hold off and book max 5 days out) but just wondered what the existing general scenario was.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
