 Poster: A snowHead
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Well I was too optimistic, for the end of the weather system Meteo France are giving the snow/rain limit as around 2500 meters with very poor snow condiitons below 2400. Danger of wet snow slides especially as the zero isotherm moves above 3000m tomorrow.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| davidof wrote: |
| Well I was too optimistic, for the end of the weather system Meteo France are giving the snow/rain limit as around 2500 meters with very poor snow condiitons below 2400. Danger of wet snow slides especially as the zero isotherm moves above 3000m tomorrow. |
Oh My God! 
Think I'll go take my long weekend in Milton Keynes.
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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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Well if we're looking for reports rather than forecasts, we had very pleasant snow if not weather at Le Tour yesterday. Cloudbase below ski level so crap vis, otherwise all very fine. Don't like the idea of more warmth and rain, but what can we do about it?
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David Murdoch, get naked and do a snow/low tempd dance 
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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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In the Northern Alps it is still possible to find very soggy snow from 1200-1500 meters on shaded forest tracks but due to the non-existant refreeze this was not really skiable. There is some snow on south facing slopes at 1800 meters. The snowpack is isothermic (0C throughout) below 2000 meters with little overnight refreeze at this level. Rocks are not far from the surface below this altitude. The zero degree isotherm touched 3500 meters in the Northern Alps on Wednesday. There was around 15cm of new snow on the 4th above 2200 meters and a further 5-10cm on the 8th above 2500 meters. Skiing is on a refreeze or wind crust in many places, this softens during the day giving almost spring like snow conditions. It looks like the mild and relatively dry weather will continue for at least the next ten days.
In short... go high young man.
The rain has stabilized the snow-pack below 2500 meters with the main risk from wet snow slides as the slopes warm during the day. The Savoie still has some traps. A group set of a slab close to the pistes at Val d’Isère yesterday.
More info (with a 2006/2007 comparison) here: http://pistehors.com/news/ski/comments/0677-scorchio/
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davidof, any news of a change in the weather soon ??
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| Chris Brookes wrote: |
| davidof, any news of a change in the weather soon ?? |
I've been following Metcheck. It's forecasts have been remarkably consistent with what actually happens. Basically, for LDA, mostly an awfully high freezing level until Saturday, and then it starts to lower. No snow on the horizon.
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The best resort conditions seem to be in the Hautes-Alpes still with Montgenvre posting quite good depths at resort and higher. I've just been checking some of the raw data from Meteo France which shows all of the Pyrenees at all altitudes have below average snow but in the Northern Alps and Hautes-Alpes in the interior ranges (Vanoise, Massif du Mont-Blanc, Beaufortin, Ecrins, Haute-Maurienne, Haute-Tarentaise) the situation is NORMAL at 2400 meters altitude.
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| Quote: |
Weather remains mild until the 20th (Saturday). A weather system will hit the Prealps and Jura on Wednesday with rain and a few flakes above 1700m. Thursday and Friday will see more sustantial rain to 2000/2200 m with snow higher up accompanied by a violent wind from the west. On Sunday we will finally see snow to 1000m but limited quantities. By Sunday night conditions will only really have improved above 2000m
Finally next week the tendency is for a return to winter with significant snowfall to low altitudes at the western end of the Haute-Savoie and Haute-Maurienne but a lot less in the interior valleys. Watch this space.
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- Meteo France Chamonix
Touring conditions were poor today. Frozen snow on south faces although with lots of grip with a layer of ice from freezing rain on north sector slopes. I will post a photo tomorrow.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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davidof, thanks. From our point of view as long as nothing bad happens above 2000 m it's OK! Selfish, I suppose!!
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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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Here is the ice (verglas) covering e-n-w sector slopes yesterday. It was about 1-2cm thick and probably formed when we had rain to 2500-2700m last week which turned to ice when it hit the snow surface. There have been a few deaths in the mountains due to people losing their footing and this is possibly the cause. 3 Spanish climbers died in Gavarnie. The French Rescue Services have said there has also been a marked increase in injuries on piste due to the difficult conditions. As examples, two people died skiing into snow canons over the last week. As C. will no doubt confirm a British skier and an ESF instructor are both in a serious condition after a piste collision at les 2 alpes, it appears that the Brit was skiing too fast for the conditions. The ESF instructor is unlikely to work again this season.
Under the layer of ice is old powder snow but there also seemed to be a layer of facetted snow just under the verglas.
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Well the forecast is for rain to 2200 to 2500 m tomorrow in our area which isn't wonderful. I think I will stay indoors.
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You know it makes sense.
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Still very warm in the Belledonne (Central French Alps) today, 3.5C at 1800m with a light wind from the south-east. This probably means it is snowing above 2000m now. There will probably be quite a lot of wet snow avalanches during today as the snowpack gets overloaded and watch out for slabs on north sector slopes, particuarly where these crusts form a sliding surface. It seems that the Haute-Tarentaise missed these ice crusts but there is a lot of gobelet up there.
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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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There is a generalized lack of snow below 2500 meters in the French mountain ranges with almost no snow in the Vosges and Massif Central and very little snow on the summits of the Jura. All the ski resorts in these areas are currently closed. Forty mid-mountain ski resorts are also closed in the Alps, notably in the Vercors and Chartreuse. The cross country ski race in the Chartreuse, la Foulée Blanche, has had to be cancelled. While worrying this close to the all important February holiday period, representing two-thirds of turnover for a ski resort, the situation is not unknown with the winters of 89-90, 94-95 and 96-97 experiencing similar snow droughts.
Mid-mountain resorts hit hard by snow drought
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Poster: A snowHead
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davidof Thanks for these updates ... we are trying to work out whether a sneaky last minute trip starting Sat the 27th is worth it, and these on the ground reports are more useful than optimistic tourist offices website reports or (re-pointed????) webcams.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| agavin wrote: |
| davidof Thanks for these updates ... we are trying to work out whether a sneaky last minute trip starting Sat the 27th is worth it, and these on the ground reports are more useful than optimistic tourist offices website reports or (re-pointed????) webcams. |
but note the generally good conditions above 2000m in the high resorts.
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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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| Quote: |
| the situation is not unknown with the winters of 89-90, 94-95 and 96-97 experiencing similar snow droughts. |
Thank you, that one line sums up the current situation IMHO and if read by all, should put an end to the doom-monger's chattering about the end of skiing as we know it!
Last edited by Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see? on Fri 19-01-07 11:15; edited 1 time in total
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| davidof wrote: |
| There is a generalized lack of snow below 2500 meters in the French mountain ranges with almost no snow in the Vosges ... All the ski resorts in these areas are currently closed. |
I can confirm that - in fact if the clouds lift, I might even get a few pics of "no snow" on the way home tonight. 
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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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davidof, It must be very hard economically for folks dependant on the snow in these areas. Looks much colder next weekend, lets hope it snows for them. It's only our holidays, but for the locals it is their livelihood.
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Executive summary: Yesterday was T-shirt weather in the French mountains. 17C at 1600 m with the zero iso around 3400m. Conditions are crusty/icy on north facing slopes, spring snow on east to south-west slopes. Some wet snow avalanche activity and slabs on east facing slopes at altitude but lots of weak layers on north sector slopes... expect avalanche activity to increase from Tuesday with the new snow (50cm?).
Video Snow Report 20 Jan 2007
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davidof, it was indeed incredibably hot yesterday, felt like summer! infact it was warmer than it was in august this year!
how ever today is feeling much cooler and cloudier and there might even be some snow on the cucamel.
Hoping we get to have a decent dump with good coverage as i still haven't been able to ride our trees!
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| snowangel. wrote: |
davidof, it was indeed incredibably hot yesterday, felt like summer! infact it was warmer than it was in august this year!
how ever today is feeling much cooler and cloudier and there might even be some snow on the cucamel.
Hoping we get to have a decent dump with good coverage as i still haven't been able to ride our trees! |
Yes I was thinking that it might be snowing a bit above 1600m although it was pretty warm when I went out to get some wood this morning. The weather forecast seem to be hedging a bit on the totals for the week, 30-50cm maybe ?
Still Serre Chevalier has been having a relatively good season.
Just a comment on the Video, you can see that even in south facing and relatively low Chamrousse there is some reasonable piste skiing, okay the cross country skiers were not well served but the resort has done a good job of maintaining some open runs.
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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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davidof, could you pm me or email me at richard@fall-line .co.uk - really like to get in touch re a few bits and pieces...
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An update on the snow - there was about 5cm at 1900 m on Sunday with the weak weather front that moved across the Alps. It will turn colder over the course of today (Monday) with 5-10cm Tuesday and 10-20cm on Wednesday so about 35cm total. To be honest not really enough to do anything except on ski pistes that already have some snow cover. After that a return to bright, sunny weather for the next tend days. The message remains as in the video, go high.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Well, davidof, that's still pretty good:
1) Everything will be white as it should be
2) The pistes that didn't thaw will be back in good condition
3) The cold temperatures will help keep things that way
It's only disappointing if you fancy going off-piste on the lower slopes.
Do you think I've over-sold the prospects?
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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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| crosbie wrote: |
Do you think I've over-sold the prospects? |
No I think that is a fair interpretation. Resorts that have some water left will be able to make snow to cover some of the gaps. I suspect the Compagnie des Alpes will have a big smile by the end of the season when they do their accounts.
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You know it makes sense.
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What is your altitude, and is that actually rain, or snow/10?
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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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| crosbie wrote: |
| What is your altitude, and is that actually rain, or snow/10? |
My altitude is 300m, the figure is rainfall at the moment although it is just turning to sleet now with snow around 550 meters at the moment.
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Poster: A snowHead
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davidof, I hope it snows well for you. I have missed your vertigo inducing adventures in the mountains.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Thanks davidof.
Good to see.
Are the charts created automatically by sensors on your roof? Will snow still get measured appropriately (even if by liquefaction)?
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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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| crosbie wrote: |
Thanks davidof.
Good to see.
Are the charts created automatically by sensors on your roof? Will snow still get measured appropriately (even if by liquefaction)? |
No the snow wont' get measured properly - the rain gauge would probably need a heater element. Last winter the roof had snow on it for 2 months, this year the few flakes of snow I just saw (now turned back to rain) are all I've seen at this level.
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So, the charts indicate about 10cm of fresh snow above 1,000m ?
I presume you're nearby one or more summits over 1,000m in Chartreuse?
* Chamechaude, 2082 meters
* Dent de Crolles, 2062 meters
* Grand Som, 2033 meters
* la Grande Sure, 1920 meters
* Granier, 1938 meters
* Dent du Chat, 1390 meters
Can you tell if the snow line has descended yet? Or is visibility obscured by huge snow showers? 
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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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| crosbie wrote: |
So, the charts indicate about 10cm of fresh snow above 1,000m ?
I presume you're nearby one or more summits over 1,000m in Chartreuse?
* Chamechaude, 2082 meters
* Dent de Crolles, 2062 meters
* Grand Som, 2033 meters
* la Grande Sure, 1920 meters
* Granier, 1938 meters
* Dent du Chat, 1390 meters
Can you tell if the snow line has descended yet? Or is visibility obscured by huge snow showers? |
I'm directly under the Dent de Crolles. The weather station is automatic, I wrote the software myself and it could do with some improvements. I've just repointed the webcam so you be able to see the snow on the valley sides when it next updates in 30 minutes time:-
It is down to about 400meters now although rainfall has eased off a bit. There has been 10cm at 1000m and 20cm at les Deux Alpes at glacier level. This won't be enough to open runs between 1000m-1500m but if we get the predicted cold and it snows again on Wednesday expect to see some of those slopes skiable. The good thing is there is virtually no wind, even at 2000m.
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It was snowing in Grenoble last night and my neighbour's car had a couple of cms snow on it. Grenoble was a bit of mess as I drove through it on the way to work. Up in the Chartreuse it is white everywhere, even down to the motorway - a much more pleasant sight than recently! I'm just outside St. Laurent du Pont (410m) and it's snowing lightly still.
One of my colleagues who lives in St. Pierre de Chartreuse (a small ski resort at 900m nearby) says there was about 20-25cm overnight. Of course that's not an official measurement.
All this on my doorstep and I'm supposed to be driving to Andorra to meet some friends tomorrow!!!!
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30cm on the Scia - the top of the slopes of St Pierre, but that is on zero base so you need rock skis. Andorra is a bad plan unless you want to stock up on bacci and booze.
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Just back from a sweet few days in Isola 2000.
Conditions were poor over the weekend. Almost all artificial. Hadn't snowed for a month. Icy on one side of the valley, slushy on the other. The natural snowline on Southerly slopes was at an incredible 2500m. Very mild. Skied in a jumper during the early afternoon.
Things have perked up in the last two days. Temps fell. Modest snow refreshed the pistes. Everywhere looking whiter. Conditions much better.
Would recommend Isola 2000 for a weekend trip. Less than 90 mins from Nice airport. Nice views on the way there. Tiny ski area, though. Most good riders will ski it out in less than 3 days.
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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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No bacci or booze (apart from the stuff I'll drink in the bar for apres); though judging by my colleagues' complaints about tab prices I could make a small fortune.
Most of my skiing has involved some rocks so far this season - and my rock skis got stolen last year!
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FAQ
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