Lars Oelmann

March is shaping up to be a veritable winter month and there's plenty more to come on top of the existing base as Ullr is working overtime on the atmospheric machine. The only fly in the ointment is the significantly higher snow line than recently.

Ullr, our dearest God, no longer seems to be working part-time in March. As soon as the snow in the south is through (with up to 120 cm according to the SLF, as stated in the alarm), it starts again in the north-west and there's a lot more to come.

Wow. It looks like Ullr is going to get its act together and let winter begin in early March. At least in the northwest (with over a meter from the last two alarms) and now also in the south - well, at least parts of the south. And as I've just come from climbing in Ticino, I can tell you: it's sorely needed there too.

As announced, the current has turned to the northwest and there's even some alarm-worthy snow. In the south, it didn't snow quite as much in the core zones in the west (or significantly less), while the east (Slovenia/Italy) was in the target range.

There's finally an alarm again. And even if it's hard to believe here in Ticino, it's winter. Something is happening that can once again be described as a onset of winter in this prolonged late fall. And it doesn't even seem to be a flash in the pan, but more on that at the end in the medium-term outlook.

Ullr finally thinks to himself again: "Oh, while I'm here, there'll be snow again". Thank goodness, you have to say, because there hasn't been much in France and western Switzerland so far. With the recent dump, you can probably go skiing there too. With the handbrake on. (Have there already been days without a handbrake this winter?)

It's a bit complicated with Ullr. First he sends more snow to the north than expected, but also a high snow line. Now he changes the setup without further ado and less snow is expected in the south, but more in the west. In addition, it may only be the first alert and a second one will follow on Saturday for Sunday Monday.

Ullr has an understanding in mid-January and ends the early winter. At least in northern Switzerland and western Austria. Unfortunately, this doesn't apply to France and western Switzerland, where it snows for the first time since the beginning of November and you only reach the meadow riding phase for the time being. In the far east, there is more snow on the base so that freeriding can continue there.

While I was sitting on the plane, Ullr thought to himself: "Oh, skiing with a base like this is nicer, I'll send a load right after. And to make sure I surprise everyone, I'll put more pressure on the models.

At last. The time has come: there is a real northerly accumulation in - almost - the entire Northern Alps. For many areas from central Switzerland to Tyrol, this means that the first real snowfall of the season will come on January 5th. Oh well! This also means: don't forget to switch to early season mode. In terms of snow cover, it feels more like early/mid-November here. Further east, there is already a certain base and Ullr serves you powder again. You can actually go freeriding "properly".

When Ullr orders a Melange and a snowfall for five euros for the bus driver at the tobacconist, you know that it will only snow in the east of Austria.

Christmas 2027: The avalanche warning services have to surprisingly end summer mode because it actually snows in December! Well, it's not quite that far yet, but after the third bad early winter, we are surprised that something actually happens again before January.