 Poster: A snowHead
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Rather than further derail the weather outlook thread, where several people are concerned about potential travel disruption this weekend, I thought I'd start a new thread, for all those people who no longer have to worry about whether there'll be snow at Christmas. Now we can worry about whether we can get to it.... and plan how to avoid the worst, more productively.
Enough wind in the Channel to disrupt ferries? Enough snow at Geneva to close the airport? It doesn't take much. Enough rain to cause landslips at some Alpine bottlenecks? (remember the day everyone arriving in Bourg St Maurice had to sleep in school halls because the road up to Tignes was closed by a landslip? or the same thing happening to the Mont Blanc Tunnel?). We all know Chambery can't always cope with even fairly mild bad weather.
I have to drive south through the San Gottardo tunnel into Italy on Thursday and back north through Fréjus at the weekend. I also live virtually at sea level and just yards from the sea, on the south coast (last night's storm deposited seaweed near the back wheels of the car on the drive).
I'll be carefully watching snow in Switzerland, Italy and France, as well as likely storm surge on the south coast. So, anyone with thoughts on any of this, or hoping to travel to the Alps this weekend and ready for a bit of "Ain't it Awful?" is welcome to join in. 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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I will be flying into Geneva on Friday afternoon - after that it can do what it bloody well likes 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I'm doing Southampton - Chambery on Saturday, at the end of the day, it can't be worse than last year (touch wood).
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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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| Jakejenks wrote: |
| I'm doing Southampton - Chambery on Saturday, at the end of the day, it can't be worse than last year (touch wood). |
ooo, Chambery is usually the first airport to close in marginal weather, not so bad if you're arriving in (divert to Geneva or Lyon) but a real pig if you're flying out (sit in airport for 12 hours while they decide if they are going to fly, then organise coach to other airport).
That being said we're booked to fly into Chambery in early Jan
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I'm flying to Geneva Sat afternoon. I'm sure it will not be worst than our last Christmas travel by Eurostar.
Will never use Eurostar for travel .
Return travel to London delayed 3 hrs and no heating in our carriage.
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Driving via the Tunnel on Friday evening, stopover at Laon and on down to Le Grand Bornand on Saturday.
This trip last year saw us spending 3 hours sitting in deep snow on a clogged A26 Autoroute... hoping for better this time. 
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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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They've got plenty now. They opened last weekend for the Saturday and Sunday - we're staying at Chinaillon so a bit higher than LGB itself. Webcams look great and with the forecast snow coming too it should be really good. Looking forward to stoking up the woodburner already.....
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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January three or four years ago, sat at EMA with friends for hours awaiting our flight to Geneva in high winds - the airline were not prepared to open the luggage doors because they were afraid the wind would rip them off! Then my phone rang and it was my wife to say that part of the roof had come off our house and landed in the conservatory.
Needless to say that was one trip I didn't make. Watching the news that night, saw some hair-raising footage of planes landing more or less sideways in cross-winds ...
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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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Got a relative flying into GVA (via Denmark) next Wednesday, so keeping a bit of an eye on things.
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Flying Manchester>Grenoble on friday - I've been worrying about there not being enough snow for the last two weeks. I really don't need to start worrying aout too much snow for travel! 
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You know it makes sense.
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Forecast for Grenoble is rain rain rain and 'very mild', reckon we'll be ok!
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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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| ansta1 wrote: |
| Jakejenks wrote: |
| I'm doing Southampton - Chambery on Saturday, at the end of the day, it can't be worse than last year (touch wood). |
ooo, Chambery is usually the first airport to close in marginal weather, not so bad if you're arriving in (divert to Geneva or Lyon) but a real pig if you're flying out (sit in airport for 12 hours while they decide if they are going to fly, then organise coach to other airport).
That being said we're booked to fly into Chambery in early Jan |
Diverted to Grenoble last year, but I was just glad to get out there with all the snow we had here. Cancelled flights, unable to get to the airport, snowed in at our house, day 1 was a write off but did it the second day.
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Poster: A snowHead
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I'm flying to Munich, then by train onto Schladming on Friday 15th, returning Tuesday 20th. Forecast is for heavy rain over Munich on Friday, so hopefully the trains won't be disrupted by snow like last year.
Despite the 3 hour delay in my journey last year, it was somewhat gratifying to see than even the super efficient Germans and Austrians were completely disrupted by severe weather conditions. Tell that to the next person who tells you that it doesn't happen on the continent.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Quote: |
Tell that to the next person who tells you that it doesn't happen on the continent.
_________________
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Too right. And the north of France is very unable to cope with snow (for the good reason that it happens rarely so hardly worth squandering the tax payers resources on vast fleets of snowploughs - as in the UK).
It doesn't take severe weather conditions to close Geneva airport. 10cms of snow can do it.
There are severe weather warnings for the UK on Friday too - some ferocious winds likely, and some snow on higher ground (hopefully, for the Scottish skiers). I should be in Italy by then, and our lodger has offered to put up the flood gates if necessary (great things, lodgers, plus he pays for our ski apartment!) so will probably go and leave the house to its own devices.
The UK is looking better for Saturday. Forecast rain/snow limits for the Alps are coming down - great news for snow on the mountains  but not so good for travelling. Can't have it all ways, can we?
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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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Couldn't resist a quick look at what is currently happening at sea and in the air. A lot of delays on the ferries, but unless your flying from Lands End airport planes seem to be leaving and entering UK air space pretty much on time!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| pam w wrote: |
| There are severe weather warnings for the UK on Friday too - some ferocious winds likely, and some snow on higher ground (hopefully, for the Scottish skiers). |
No need to wait until Friday for ferocious winds & heavy snow. There's been problems on and off in Scotland the last 10 days or so due to snow & wind & the current weather here is quite vicious. It could be a long night for these unfortunate lorry drivers and the situation for much of the country is deteriorating rapidly...
Last edited by You need to Login to know who's really who. on Tue 13-12-11 16:58; edited 1 time in total
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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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| pam w wrote: |
| ...remember the day everyone arriving in Bourg St Maurice had to sleep in school halls |
Yup, remember it well. Was in Arc 1800 and had a brilliant day on the slopes in great snow and no queues 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I'm on the 8.40am Swiss flight from Birmingham to Zurich on Friday 16th. Fingers crossed. I'm assuming that as long as I can get to Zurich I'll have no trouble getting to Wengen on the train
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off to Egypt for some winter sun on Saturday (I lost).......
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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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Snowing in Milton Keynes at the moment (& quite windy too). Too warm to stick at the mo (although very skiddy - was glad of my winter tyres driving along the country roads earlier) but if it freezes tonight...
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So given that Chambery Lyon and Geneva airports will all be closed which is the best airport to be delayed at or diverted to?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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No snow for weeks and now the big storm coming. Don't mind a delay, but want to get there on Sunday.....
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| Dr John wrote: |
| I'm flying to Munich, then by train onto Schladming on Friday 15th, returning Tuesday 20th. |
I think you need to check your travel dates, Friday is the 16th 
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You know it makes sense.
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stewart woodward, Correct. Just making sure you were paying attention...
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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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I'm on an 0640 flight from Gatwick to Geneva on Saturday 17th with Mark Warner, then on a coach up to La Plagne.
I am not anticipating a smooth journey, but I hope we just get there at some point. Hopefully it will just be rain at Geneva and the road to the resort will be kept clear.
I will watch this thread with interest!!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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550pm friday from Heathrow to GVA for a long weekend in Montalbert
Fingers crossed for minimal disruption but maximum fresh snow on the slopes 
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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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Our ferry just got cancelled, so now a 2 day delay 
oh look 999 posts
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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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The weather is as naught:
Cyprus on strike 15th December - public sector including air traffic controllers
Greece 15th Dec public sector strike
Italian General Strike - Trenitalia 9pm 15th Dec - 9pm 16th Dec; 16th December 24 hour strike at Milan; Rome and Sicily on strike 16th; Monday 19th 8-hour general strike
FRANCE - All French airport security staff strike 16th Dec
Spain - Iberia all pilots to strike on 18th & 29th Dec
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Good luck to everyone who is travelling. After a 2 day stay in Lyon Airport 2 years ago I can sympathise with anyone who is delayed!
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carroz, When was your ferry and who with?.
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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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Off to Les Gets on Tuesday 20th, some by car and some of us flying - but first we have daughter's wedding here in Sussex on Saturday - just not thinking about weather too much.
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FAQ
