 Poster: A snowHead
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According to this story on Swiss info El Nino affects the weather in Europe, in particular
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| During strong El Niños, the Aleut depression over the North Pacific becomes stronger, which starts of a chain of events - leading to a weak Iceland depression over the North Atlantic and a weak polar vortex. Cold winds from Russia are then able to reach Europe, causing cold winters. |
and
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This means, say scientists, that the climate changes observed in the 1940s show that an El Niño that starts west of South America could have a considerable effect on Europe.
They concluded that the effects of El Niño were unlikely to reach Europe all the time. But they said it was possible that Europe could be hit again by such arctic conditions as were observed in the 1940s. |
So lets all hope for nice strong El Ninos in the future to give us nice cold winters in Europe
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Is it an El Nino year this year. Seem to recall it might be. Anyway, foorecasters are predicting rather chilly winter in the UK (and I assume Europe). Typical, as am only able to take a couple of days skiing this year. Fortune vomits on my eiderdown once again (Adder, Black. 1588)
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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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Hmmm, I remember the last El Nino.
I was staying in the caravan site at Bourg st Maurice under 6 ft of snow!!! Les Arcs was shut for a fair number of days - too much snow. -A very dangerous time.
Meg 
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
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From what little I've read, it's looking being a weak El Nino this year. I doubt it'll have much effect.
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DG Orf - was that winter 1950/1951 - I think that was the most famous one in the Alps for avalanches, the "Winter of Terror", with over 200 killed in Austria & Switzerland. Does anyone know if that was an El Nino year?
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Yes it was:
1951-1952
1957-1958
1965-1966
1968-1969
1972-1973
1977-1978
1982-1983
1991-1992
1997-1998
From this site which explains the basics very well.
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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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Skanky, what a great site.
Oh well back to work.
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Plake, normally I'd agree but my mother didn't start going to Wengen until 1954, though my father had been going there for longer, must have been 1957-58
51-52 is the year that the snow reached the eves of some of the single story buildings in the high street.
Looks like we may be due for another good year then possibly this year but certainly within the next couple of years.
I think 72-73 was the year that there was no significant snow in Wengen till Christmas eve, Christmas day I woke to between 2 and 3 feet of snow outside the door, perfect !
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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well it's blooming cold up here in Middlesborough compared to the sunny south coast!! Must remember to pack my thermals if i'm back up here next week 
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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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@D G Orf, a now vintage thread but interesting reading now forecasters seem to be agreeing that this winter may well have strongest El Niño on record. Here's raising a glass to a weak polar vortex and plenty of snow for all. Ho Ho Ho. 
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i seem to recall reading that an el nino will cause poor snow conditions in colorado, does this mean it has the adverse effect on europe and cause good weather for large snowfalls? or have i got that wrong?
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You know it makes sense.
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@MogulMonkey, My inexpert reading of the various articles regarding El Nino is that it has a more pronounced effect on North America but that this can mean both mild, wet weather or cold dry weather! The stronger the El nino the imoact. The correlation with the European Alps is much less certain but consensus seems to be that a strong el nino weakens the polar vortex which allows very cold air from the frozen East (Siberia etc) to reach the European Alps - I imagine the eastern and north eastern alps would derive greatest benefit from this phenomenon.
It does seem though that you can find evidence to support which ever hypothesis you wish! I will keep going with the snow chants.
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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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I did a very personal comparison of El Nino events with my feel for how good each winter was over the last 10 or so years where I've been living full-time in the Alps. Didn't actually find much correlation.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@stevomcd, would you be happy to share your analysis of last ten winters? I feel we are due a decent one (from a skiing perspective).
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| stevomcd wrote: |
| I did a very personal comparison of El Nino events with my feel for how good each winter was over the last 10 or so years where I've been living full-time in the Alps. Didn't actually find much correlation. |
That's also what the weather people at Snowbird suggest: no correlation there either.
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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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One thing for sure, at 19C in Leeds today its too warm both here and in the Alps, hope it cools down soon.
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IT means HUGE Snow but normally to Much at the same time making it incredibly dangerous.
Righ now the Alps are tropical, the ground is to warm for the time of year. If the Temperature does not drop significantly at altitude in the next couple of weeks we could have the worst situation. Heavy snow on warm ground = Avalanches.
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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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| Quote: |
| If the Temperature does not drop significantly at altitude in the next couple of weeks |
Accuweather forecast for a month ahead has both Innsbruck and Moutiers cooling down with - at last! - precipitation on the horizon around the 20-something of the month.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Quote: |
| If the Temperature does not drop significantly at altitude in the next couple of weeks |
Accuweather forecast for a month ahead has both Innsbruck and Moutiers cooling down with - at last! - precipitation on the horizon around the 20-something of the month.
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@Markymark29,
19C here in Leeds is just fine, thank you very much!
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@mountainaddict, accuweather forecast for a month ahead is just historical averages
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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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@Snowsartre, sure - nothing terribly sophisticated:
2014 - 2015: Terrible start, then came average - decent finish to the season
2013 - 2014: Average
2012 - 2013: Excellent
2011 - 2012: Excellent
2010 - 2011: Very bad
2009 - 2010: Good
2008 - 2009: Very good - superb start to the season
2007 - 2008: Good
2006 - 2007: Terrible start, improved somewhat
This is from a Tarentaise Valley viewpoint, i.e. North/central French Alps.
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@slushy, I believe that reference should be Blackadder, E. (1588)
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| henzerani wrote: |
| @slushy, I believe that reference should be Blackadder, E. (1588) |
Correct, 11 years late but correct.
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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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| Acacia wrote: |
@Markymark29,
19C here in Leeds is just fine, thank you very much! |
Agreed, a trip over to Filey yesterday and I was in a t-shirt and getting sun burnt. Crazy but lovely.
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Does anyone else get the links?
D G Orf's original link gets "Svizera-Europa: la bonta della via bilaterale". Not much there about El Nino.
skanky's link gets "Page not found".
And i'm not sure where slushy gets his information (Daily Express?), but the consensus as i see it is that if anything, we are in for a slightly warmer than average winter.
And most weather sites I've looked at agree with stevomcd: no correlation of weather in Europe with El Ninos.
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You know it makes sense.
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I've just looked up what was going on in the Pacific in the winter of 2010/11 when we had our snowiest early winter for 18 years and the coldest ever December. Must have been an El Nino year - no it was in the middle of a La Nina - the exact opposite. Also, anyone remember 1962/63? that was during a very middle of the road time in the Pacific. Where do people and organisations get their supposed correlations from?
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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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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Oh yes. Work trips to California in Feb and March.
Tahoe weekends, here I come!
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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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| Harry Flashman wrote: |
Oh yes. Work trips to California in Feb and March.
Tahoe weekends, here I come! |
Hmmm. This is of interest to me also. Could be a very good idea.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Zombie Thread alert
But relevant
By God 2010/11 was cold. And snowy. It was minus 5 at Calais at 10pm, and as I drove down into France the thermometer just kept dropping and dropping. Hotel at Chaumont, minus 18.
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