 Poster: A snowHead
|
I haven't been following things very closely in the Alps this summer.
The summer of 2023 broke several records.
It was 35 degrees or more for the longest time ever in some of the big Alpine cities.
The freezing level rose to the highest ever altitude (over 5,000m I think).
Most of the glacier resorts that typically open in September were delayed by weeks and there was only a fraction of the usual amount of skiing in October.
2024 wasn't quite as bad.
Just wondering what it's been like this summer?
Thoughts/info appreciated.
Thanks.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
In Austria it's been very wet. I can't give you exact figures, but it's been a wet one.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
Yes, a dry winter followed by a wet summer. We were glad of the winter tyres on the car, given the severity and frequency of the rain this summer. There were a few days over 30C, but not many compared to previous years. I think the heatwaves were more severe further south, in Italy and Spain.
There is lots of data about the weather in Austria here: https://www.geosphere.at/en
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
Thanks for these replies.
That sounds a little reassuring if the number of days >30 degrees was at least down on recent times.
It looks like Hintertux is currently shut, though. I don't know if that's a planned closure for maintenance or whatever, or if they're just not able to do year-round skiing there any more? I'm sure they have done until recently.
Be interesting to see if the Austrian glacier resorts which usually open in September are able to do so this year.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
We've had several spells of a week or more in the high 20s (at 1350m) but the main difference from previous years is that they've been interspersed with colder and wetter spells. There was a period in July, for example, when it was getting down well below 10C overnight, couple of times as low as 5C, and I was even forced to wear long trousers! And significant rainfalls, again with several periods of four or five days wet.
I do recall looking up at the Dents du Midi, and other peaks, and seeing some fresh snow on them, probably as low as 2500m at times, which I haven't seen for at least a couple of years at that time of year.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
@Neil Neige, long term averages (1991-2020) suggest 10-20 summer days reach 30c at low altitudes, 1000m valley etc, more so on the southern side. This year in the NW alps at least June was ridiculously hot, July was well below average, and August was mixed, cool start, hot middle, cool ending.
I've had a look at the analogs (note these smooth out day and night time temps) and they show that summer 2024 was actually warmer overall than 23 and 25.
2023: bang on average apparently
  
2024: average June, +1c July, +2c Aug
  
2025: +2 to 2.5c June, -1 to -1.5c July, while the August data only runs to 25th the last few days have been below average here.....so looks slightly below overall, say -1
  
So overall summer 2025 is likely to be close to average, 2-3c less than last year, and with July and August both below average....the short term trend is clearly down 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Neil Neige wrote: |
| That sounds a little reassuring if the number of days >30 degrees was at least down on recent times. |
Don't read too much into it – it's just weather, the long term trend is still warmer (too warm).
| Quote: |
It looks like Hintertux is currently shut, though. I don't know if that's a planned closure for maintenance or whatever, or if they're just not able to do year-round skiing there any more? I'm sure they have done until recently.
Be interesting to see if the Austrian glacier resorts which usually open in September are able to do so this year. |
Some are currently offline, but a quick look at the webcams will probably show you why they are closed, though I think Stubai doesn't normally open until October anyway.
https://www.hintertuxergletscher.at/de/skifahren/skigebietsinfo/webcams/
https://www.stubaier-gletscher.com/en/stubai-live/webcams/
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Tux appears to now be closing in August, which is a new development. I look at the webcams periodically when bored, it was quite white about a week ago but looks very grey at mo. I suspect rather than opening a tiny number of pistes in terrible conditions they are snow harvesting etc and preserving the pistes for better skiing in September. But this is just a guess, it would be interesting to see an interview with whomever runs the ski area.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
In this past week it was 32c in Montalbert we have now had rain for 3 nights and sunny/cloudy in the day. Today was 8c this morning and 16c by lunch. The grass has noticeably grown each day! Next few days have rain in the forecast as well. Hopefully heralding a nice cold rainy autumn and colder winter...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The best part of the wet summer here in Austria is that apparently all the Wasps buggered off to the UK.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
@8611, I did see them advertising for snow harvesters a few months back.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Thanks for these extra replies. Interesting to hear about Hintertux apparently now closing in August.
I think that leaves just 3 places in the Alps offering year round skiing - Saas Fee, Zermatt and one in Italy.
I'm guessing back in the 1990s there will have been over 10 (nearer 20?) staying open over summer?
Sobering stuff but at least this particular summer wasn't another record breaker in the Alps.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Quote: |
apparently all the Wasps buggered off to the UK.
|
not round here - been few wasps this summer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
